New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-10

enemy VAIN CERTAIN Nc~P"" "
.o-m or An army raised BY application
or the principle Of universal haoiity
Tor military service as duty OF eiii'
zenship. Supplementins that, he issued
recently a statement approving IN
every detail the departmental plans
which have the unanimous approval o;
the Army General staff.
4 compromise plan may be offered by
the opponents Of compulsory service
A sentiment for such q move was evil
dent in Ny. Dents committee before
which Secretary Baker and tho mill
tarv chiefs Of the War Department as
sembled in full strength during the day
20 suppor. the Administration policy
There was no indication. however. that
a compromise would be accepted by the
President.
Debate on ConsCription
In the Senate. debate on coHscrlpuon
occupied much time during discussion
Of the regular army appropriation bill
left over from last session. The cues
ton is not dealt with in the bill, but
curing the debate Senator Kirby offered
an amendment which would authorize
the President 10 call volunteers in lots
of half a million each. The amendment
is subject 20 a poir, Of order and prob
ably will be disposed OF that way with
out debate.
As a result OF Chairman Dents OPP
position 10 CONSUMPTION, IL is possible
that some other member OF the House
committee Will present the Administra-
ton bill = il IS reported. as officials
hope 10 VIII be. substantially thc
form in which q was drawn The
chairman agreed 20 introduce it by
request" which means that ne would
take no responsibility for j..
As an active and sympathetic leader
ship on the floor Of the House Will be
needed, the task may 60 20 some other
committeeman. Representative Kahn.
ranking Republican member, has been
3 consistent advocate OF universal mil
itsry training and service for years.
He went 10 the extent. during the
framing of the national defence act.
Of sending to England for recruiting
posters and literature, and used them
20 illustrate 10 the House the unrelia-
bic and inefficient operation OF that
system.
In Committee for Week
"Tbero * no cborce m Garth of che
bill coming out of the committee la
any form within a week al the least.
The main controversy Is over the Ques-
ton Of conscription.'
Mr.. Dent indicated that he was
anxious TO maintain harmony Of view
and action within the committee. He
was not ready to-day to talk about
the nature Of the compromise o. which
he is thinking.
Discussion o! the regular army
appropriation bill had been perfume
tory in the Senate until section
authorizing advertising agencies TO OBJ
tain recruits for the army was reached.
Chairman Chamberlain said it was con
sidered necessary 10 get men, and ir
stsnced the fact that recruiting for the
National Guard had not been sue
cessful.
Recruits have focked 70 National
Guard headquarters ever since the Ger
man Ambassador was sent home de-
clared Senator Wadsworth. "but now
hear the War Department has sent ont
orders forbddng the guard 70 accept
recruits"
Senator Nelson, veteran of the
Civil War. declared himself in favor
bf call for volunteers.
- he
The President calls for a volunteer army
Of 100000 men and says il is going 20
Europe and fight there would be no
trouble at all What the boys dread
above all is 10 be stationed in camp
with nothing but drills and guard duty.
What they want is TO march and fight
and to meet the enemy"
The Senator added, however, that he
did not believe u necessary TO send an
army 20 Europe at present.
Before the House committee Sccre-
tary Baker stood firmly for the Cen
crsl STAFF plans.
Would you prefer Representative
Anthony asked. Authority 10 raise A
volunteer army within thirty days
rather than TO raise the 100000 under
selectivc draft that nj ght take SIX
months?"
Il prefer the selective draft system, 4"
replied the Secretary.
Mr.. Baker approved a suggestion
that, instead OF authorizing two mere
ments of Sclcctiyc draft forces. 500. 900
10 al increment. the bill authorize the
President TO call az many such mere
ments from time 20 time as he deemed
necessary 10 prosecute the wal.
Mr.. Baker said the only provision OF
= atv.aa s-s.fa L ..... 4
initiate against the continuance % Ma
tional Guard units rs such after they
had been drafted IN the Federal service
was that the way was to be opened for
National Guard officers 70 promotion 20
any part Of the new armies. This pro
vision was inserted in justice TO the
officers Of the Guard and 10 provide an
elastic and homogeneous military
structure.
Mr.. Baker explained, also, that the
department had been unable TO permit
National Guard recruiting 70 proceed
beyond the peace strength of the COM
mands because Of shortage of equip
ment which II could supply immed-
R;ely.
Appropriations Advanced
In the Senate the 1918 appropriation
bill. designed 20 carry on the existing
military establishment, made rapid
progress. 1t has passed the House al
ready, and came from the Senate COM
mittee carrying a total of s27s,o0O.0o
which is IN addition 10 the $4,000 ,000,
GOO now asked for the army TO meet
the way emergency.
The bill now contains one section, IN
serted by the Senate committee, which
has a direct bearing on the war emer-
gency. " does away with the grade
OF brigadier general entirely.
The new section also proposes that
the Chief OF STAFF be given the rank Of