The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-08
Secretary Baker Places Gen.
eral Staff's Plan Before
House Committee.
NO ELEMENT READY
FOR TWELVE MONTHS
Bill Plans to Raise Million
Men Within Year by
COnscriptiOn.

Washington. April THE admins
plea that the war army be organized
along the lines laid down by the gen
eral staff as meeting the demands of
sound military principle.
At an executive session of the house
military committee, Secretary Baker
made an earnest appeal for quick
passage of the war department bill
providing for the training of Il million
men raised by selective Conscription
ward show of opposition to the ad
ministration plan was an announce
ment tonight by Representative An
thony of Kansas, Republican COM
mitteeman, that he would not support
compulsory service.
Detailed consideration of the propo-
sition will be taken up Monday when
Mr.. Baker supported by Major Gen.
eral Scott. chief of staff; Judge Ad-
vocate General Crowder and other
high officers Of the department, will
outline the plan for raising the army
Of u million in a year to be followed
up at an accelerated rate by the train
ing of as many more as may be need
ed. The secretary solemnly assured
the committee today that it was the
judgment of the entire military arm of
the government, of himself and of
President Wilson. that to accomplish
this purpose conscription must be APP
Piled from the very outset
Room for Volunteers.
MIR. Baker pointed out that ample
provision was made in the administra-
ton bill for absorption of all volun-
teers OF suitable age and physical quail
ifications in the first elements of the
the national guard. He indicated that
the face of the administration was
firmly set against any proposal to en-
list volunteer organizations as COM
panies. regiments brigades or other
units. There is no place in modern
army, he insisted, for such forces.
When committee members pointed
out that many men were offering their
services, provided they could 20
quickly to European battlefields, the
secretary replied that the plans of the
department were designed to train an
army no element of which would be
considered ready for actual conflict
within a year Members took his state
ments as indicating that the military
experts Of the government virtually
are unanimous on that point.
1t was made clear, however, that
with a state of war existing, absolute
jurisdiction over the use to which the
armed forces will be put lies with the
commander in chief. the president. I'm
der the constitution he must determine
what military policy is dictated by the
needs of the military situation that
confronts him.
Great Military School.
The secretary made it plain that the
administration regards it's Immediate
task az that of creating a great mill
tary school for the training of officers
and men, who win in turn train the
half million incremcnts of selective
conscription to be called later. Every
show his worth in this preliminary
force. it was stated, but the admins
tration is resolved that only those who
shall demonstrate their fitness shall
retain their commissions or be passed
on to officer the new armies. A rigid
process Of selection is to be applied
during the preliminary months. As the
war department preparations were
hurried along to fit new armies with
all appliances of modern warfare,
types of trench helmets, gas masks
and other new devices have been
adopted and tentative arrangements
made for their manufacture in large
quantities. Orders have been placed
for hand grenades in million lots and
every effort will be made to see that
American armies lack for no valuable
contrivance of defense or offense.
In announcing his opposition to the
conscriptiOn feature Of the admins
tration bill. Representative Anthony
| said tonight he would offer an amend
ment providing for raising a volunteer
army OF 100000.