The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-30
Chamberlain Wants Press dent to Advocate Compul- sory Training in Mes
 sage to Congress
CHIEF EXECUTIVE NOT COMMUNICATIVE AS TO WHAT IS CONSIDERING
Oregon Senator Claims That Power Already Exists to Bring Force Up to
 100000 at Once

Washington, NJ a r c h
 Plans to forward further pre- paredness measures for the army today began to assume definite form.
 How an armed force may be promptly secured for the pres ent emergency as well as unl- versal training as a national policy were discussed by Pres ident Wilson with Senator Chamberlain of Oregon, chair man of the Senate committee.
 At the same time Secretary Baker and administration lead CTS in Congress considered leg isIation needed immediately for the military establishment.
 Senator Chamberlain told the Presi- dent that he believed the executive has authority, without further action by Congress, to raise at once an army of more than 100000 men by increas- ing the regular army to war strength and calling out all of the National Guard at war strength, with CO., operation from state executives. There was no intimaton that the Pres ident was considering such a step im- mediately. but the whole field of meas ures necessary to secure a larger force was discussed.
 For the present needs the war de- partment, Secretary Baker said, has de- cided to submit to Congress budget containing virtually the same provisions as tine regular army appropriation bill whicf failed at the last session. Esti- mates for the expense in connection with an enlarged army for any emergency activities will be presented later.
 WILL EXPEDITE BILL 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 de- lay prompt action on the supply meas- ure.
 Senator Chamberlain asked the Presi- dent to indorse the general principle O. compulsory training in his forthcoming message to Congress. The President, it was said, gave no indication of his prob- able course. He is understood to have some objection to the Chamberlain plan After the conference the senator said he was still hopeful of administration Endorsement of his measure and also ex- pressed optimism over prospects of pass age by the Senate of some form of uni- versal training measure. Several sena- tors, he said, who formerly opposed the plan now favor 1t.
 WILL MAKE AMENDMENT As a result of his talk with the Presi- dent Senator Chamberlain exrects t. make several important amendments C., his bill. particularly with the idea oe increasing the number of trained soldiers lit would produce in short period To this end he proposes to raise the ag6 limit of youths subject to training from 19 to 20 years to secure more mature men, and to begin the training periods soon- CT tHdl pfoNtutu III tHe leHts'sNo Dlit, which proposes that about 5000Oo youths be trained annually with six months cons tinuous service.
 Another amendment. Senator Cham berlain said. would be to create 36 di- visions in the country for the segre- gation of the training work. with fa- cilities for training an army division. of from 22,000 to 27.0oo men in each divisional camp. While some of the divisions. MT. Chamberlain thought, would have larger bodies under train ing than others, he believed at least 800, 900 young men would be thus se- cured
 NO GREAT EXPENSE The Oregon senator impressed upon the President that his plan would
 not entail the enormous expense of the army general staff training bill. He estimated that without providing cost | ly permanent barracks as training camps and by having the students live 1 in tents. the annual cost of training 5000 men would be. roughly. $156.- l 100000.
 | As to the measures necessary for increasing the army in emergency Senator Chamberlain said that under existing law the President is author- ized to increase the standing to Ito
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