The Sentinel=record., 1917-04-07
UNITED STATES HAS ACCEPTED
 GERMANYS WAR CHALLENGE

porting the general staff plans for the army in every detail. including the provision for selective draft to ob- tain men. Later in the day Chairman Dent of the house military commit. tee called to see Secretary Baker, who will take the staff plan and it's accompanying three billion dollar budget before the committee tomor- TOW.
 The conference had to do with the draft clauses of the bill 10 which considerable opposition is expected at the capitol. Mr. Dent said afterward that he could not forecast the senti. ment Of congress- but that he person. ally was prepared 10 do all in his power to secure harmony of action tween congress and the administra- tion.
 ''I have been opposed always to the draft he said. "or to conscrlption systems for the army and think it should be invoked only in time of ac- tual necessity or emergency How ever. I shall do what 1 can to keep the administration and congress ill agreement on the question and to avoid any conflict, especially at the present time"
 Plans have been laid for calling tho entire general staff to Washing ton to help in administration of the huge task of army building before the department. Only half of the author ized strength of the staff can now be on duty here under existing law Con. gress is expected 10 remedy this at once, however
 Pending a decision by congress on the methods to be employed in rais- ing the army, a detailed scheme for appointment of new general officers and getting highly efficient soldiers in command of each regiment cannot be worked out The basis for this work h0weser,--already- has been es- tablished by staff action.
 Wide latitude has been left to the president in the selection of generals under the staff plan. They may be appointed from any part of the forces to be raised or from civil life Up 10 and including the grade of colonel, however, it is desired by the military officials that men ', 10 have had re- cent experience in handling troops shall De selected, So far as possible it is proposed 10 select regular army officers to head all new regiments.
 With thirty-two infantry and four cavalry divisions to be organized there would be at least thlrty-six major generals and three times that number of brigadiers to be selected and commissioned, with cOlonels and majors in proportion. The grade of major is the highest provided for re. serve officers, and that of captain for the provisional list of enlisted men.
 The creation of sixteen training centers would provide for two in- ltULIy ulNlHiOH5 dJ tdNu ppSL' lit- sumably the centers of the four caval- ry divisions would be somewhere in the region of the Mexican border, so that this mounted force can take over the border patrol work to a large ex- tent, relieving the majority of 60000 regulars now assembled there
 With the calling out of the first 500,000 of the new army provision would be made for a new complete division at each training center, the forces already there supplying the IT. structors, so that the half million young men could be absorbed into the army structure with little delay
 No further steps toward calling out the national guard will be taken un- til congress has acted. IL is proposed to draft the entire guard into the fed. eral service instead of summoning them under their dual allegiance or. ganizations. This can be done only with the authority of congress. When that has been granted even the 60,000 guardsmen now in the federal service on police duty will be drafted formal ly so as to do away with any possi- bility of dual authority over them or restriction on their use.