The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-30
RAISE ARMY
Of 100000
SEN. CHAMBERLAIN
SEES PRES. WILSON
Declares the Authority Now
Exists to Recruit Large
Military Force.

! WASHINGTON, Mar. Z9.-PlanS
to forward furthr preparedness mea'
sures for the army today began 10
assume definite form.
! How an increased armed force may
be promptly secured for the present
emergency as well as universal train
ing as national policy were discus
sed by President Wilson with Senator
Chamberlain, of Oregan, chairman ot
the senate military committee. At the
same time Secretary Baker and admin.
istration leaders in congress consld'
cred legislation needed Immediately
for the military establishment.
Senator Chamberlain told the pres
ident that he believed the executive
now has authority without further
action by congress to raise at once
an army Of more than 700, 900 men. oy
strength and calling out all OF the
National Guard at war strength, "ltn
cooperation from state executives.
There was no intimation that the
president was considering such step
Immediately, but the whole field or
measures necessary to secure larEeI
! force was discussed.
! Enormous Expense.
For present needs, the war depart
ment, Secretly Baker said, has decld'
I'd 10 submit 10 congress Il budget con-
tagging virtually the same provisions
! bill, which failed al the last session.
Estimates for the expense IN con-
nection with All enlarged army or
for any emergency activities VIII be
presented later. This decision coin
cideS with the house plan to re-enact
the appropriation bill without change
and send it 10 the senate.
Senator Chamberlain also agreed 10
expedite the bill in the senate. 70
this end, be said he would not again
offer his universal training bill as 4
rider If it would delay prompt action
on the supply measure.
Universal Training.
The conference between the Presl-
dent and Senator Chamberlain, At the
latters request was primarily TO dis
cusS the senator's universal training
plan. He asked the President to en-
dorse the general principle of compul-
sorry training in his forthcoming mes
sage 10 congress. The President. It
was said, gave no indication OF his
probable course He was said 10 favor
some plan for providing military
training, but was non-commtttal con
cerning the Chamberlain plan, 10
which he Is understood TO have some
objections.
After leaving the White House the
senator said he was still hopefup' nr
administration endorsement Of his
measure, and also expressed increased
optimism over prospects Of passage by
the senate Of some form OF universal
training measure. Several senators,
he said, who formerly opposed the
plan, now favor II.
-"As result of his talk with the
President. Senator Chamberlain ex-
poets 10 make several important
amendments to his bill. particularly
with the idea of increasing the num-
Der Of trained soldiers il would pro-
duce in a short period. To this end,
he proposes TO raise the age limit
OF youths subject to training from ID
10 90 years, to secure more mature
mon and TO begin the training periods
sooner than provided in the tentative
bill, which proposes that about 100000
Youths be trained annually with six
months continuous service.