Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-30

Washington, March 29.-Plans tc forward preparedness measures for the army today began to assume definite form.
 How an increased armed force may be promptly secured for the pres. ent emergency, as well as universal training as a national policy, were discussed by President Wilson with Senator Chamberlain of Oregon, chair man of the senate military committee At the same time Secretary Baker and administration leaders in congress considered legislation needed immedi- ately for the military establishment
 Army of 100000 Men.
 Senator Chamberlain told the presi- dent that he believed the executive now has authority without further army of more than 100000 men, by in creasing the regular army to war strength and calling out of the na- tional guard, at war strength, with CO., operation from state executives.
 There was no intimation that the president was considering such a step immediately, but the whole field of measures necessary for aelarge- force NaS discussed.
 For present purposes the war de- ksartment, Secretary Baker said, had &ecided to submit to congress a budget viEions as the regular army appro- prtation, which failed at the last ses- sion.
 Estimates for the expenses in con- nection with an enlarged army or for any emergency activities will be pre- sented later. This decision coincides with the house plan to re-enact the appropriation bill without change and send it at once to the senate.
 Senator Chamberlain also agreed to expedite the bill in the senate. He said he would not again offer his universal training bill as a rider if it would delay prompt action on the supply measure.
 Senator Chamberlain Visits President. '. The conference between the presi- dent and Senator Chamberlain, at the latter's request was primarily to dis cuss the senator's universal training dorse the general principle of compul- plan. He asked the president to en- sorry training in his forthcoming mes sage to congress. The president, it was said, gave no indications of his probable course. He was said to fla vor some plan for providing military training, but was non-committal re- gardfng the Chamberlain plan, to which he is understood to have some objections.
 After leaving the White House, the senator said he was "stiH hopefur' of administration endorsement of his measure. and also expressed increased optimism over prospects of passage by she senate of some form of universal , training measure. Several senators, he said, who formerly opposed the 1lan, now favor it.
 To Raise Age Limit.
 As a result of his talk with the president, Senator Chamberlain expects 70 make several important amend ments to his bill, particularly with the Idea of increasing the number of trained soldiers it would produce in a short period. To this end he proposes Ta Of feet to training from 19 to 20 years, in order to secure more mature men, and to begin the training periods sooner than provided in the tentative i3l, which proposes that about 500, 900 fouths be trained annually with six months continuous service.
 36 Divisions for Training.
 Another amendment, Senator Cham berIain said, would be to create 36 di- visions in the country for the segre- gation of the training work. with fla elites for training an army division of of from 22,o00 to 27,000 men in each divisional camp. While some of the divisions, Senator Chamberlain thought, would have larger bodies under train ing than others, he believed at least 500, 900 young men would be thus se- cured
 The Oregon senator impressed upon the president that his plan would not entail the enormous expense of the general army training bill. He esti- mated that without providing costly permanent barracks at training camps and by having the students live in tents, the annual cost of training 500,- 900 men would be roughly $156. 900, 900.
 War Strength of Guard 440,00o.
 As to the measures necessary for in- creasing the army in emergency, Sem ator Chamberlain said that under ex- istfng law the president Is authorized to increase the standing army to it's war strength of 270,O00, or, with aux iliaries, aggregating a regular force of about 100000. The war strength of the national guard was estimated at about 40. 900 with all forces fully en- listed. Thus combined, the senator said, trained army of nearly three quarters of a million men could be provided without action by congress.
 When the regular army appropria- tion bill reaches the senate, Senator said he thought it would be increased, with or without specific request from the war department, at least suficiently to provide material