Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-24
Measure Proposes Training
for 100000 Young Men,
19 Years Old, Each Year,
Provides Strong Reserve.
BAKER EXPRESSES NO
CONCRETE OPINION
No Action Expected at Present
Session of Congress but
Country Should Be Informed
on Subject.

ray MORNING louHsA. srsc,.L lr.s.o WAR,

| Washington, Feb. 23.--The army
general staff universal service bill
was transmitted to the senate military
committee today by Secretary Baker
without a definite expression by the
administration either on the general
subject or the specific proposal
| The secretary said 1t was not
J thought that congress could give SO
intricate a problem consideration in
the closing days of this session, but
suggested that wide publicity be given
the staff plan, "to the end that both
congress and the war department can
in any subsequent consideration given
to the subject, have the benefit OF an
enlightened, thoughtful public opinion
upon the needs and wishes of the
country"
Statement Non-committal.
"As yet" the letter of transmittai
continues, Il am not prepared to say
officially for the war department that
the need of the country can reason
ably be said to be for so great an es-
tahlishment nor can we yet, without
further study and deliberation, he
Confident that the means suggested
are the most appropriate to the need
which it shall be determined wise to
foresee"
Al luullI luIllbtiS lllt SNdll plhi'
would supply a trained force of 4,000,-
900 men. with one year of intensive
military instruction. 1t Is estimated
by the war college that approximate
! ly 100000 boys in their nineteenth
/ year would be available for training
annually. They would. under the
plan. he liable TO call to the colors
until 80 years of age, passing after the
| first eleven months of their training to
the first reserves for the next four
years and one month. then into the
second reserve, and finally. into the
| unorganized reserve until they reach
ed the age of 45.
| First Reserve of 100000 Men.
The purpose of the bill is to con-
stitute the first reserve as fully or
ganized and equipped fighting force
with a strength of 100000 ready to
respond instantly to a call to arms.
| The second reserve of equal size but
only partially equipped. would require
some time to take the field Even
tually there would be 100000 addi-
tional trained men ready to fill In
gaps at the front
In addition to these forces there
would be a regular army, composed
of men choosing military life as pro-
fession, of 24.400 officers and 285.SS6
enlisted men. OF these $4,000 would
form the oversee forces and $4,000
the frontier forces, the remainder
composing the permanent training
personnel which could take care OF
the instruction of from 492.3S6 to
654292 reserve recruits annually. If
the proportion of available men for
training was greater than the figure
given, the permanent training force
would have to be proportionately in@
creased.
would Cost s472, ,25s,748.
In estimating the cost of mainte.
nance of the proposed army. the war
college figured that an annual mill
tary budget of $472,258,746 would be
required to keep up the proposed
force at a strength OF 3.296,023 men.
including the regulars. The total rep
resents an annual cost per man OF
$143.2S and includes the cost of train
| ing 475,000 recruits. although II does
not enumerate them as available SOL
ders.
| In comparison with this the staff
says eventual military budgets under
the present national defense act will
! be $339, 9,54S,00O to maintain a partial
| ly trained force of S26.572 national
guardsmen in addition to the regular
army, or total OF 1,1s7,200 men at
per capita cost of s29s.5S.
! After discussing various military
plans considered and the federaliza-
tion of the national guard, Secretary
! Bakers letter continues
Experts Favor Plan
This plan is regarded by the mill
tary experts of the general staff as
ideal. They realize, however. that 1t
involves not only radical departure
from the military traditions Of the
country but that 1t presents vast
scheme of organization, far larger
both in cost and results than anything
yet seriously considered by the people
of the United States.
"'rhe general staff believes the plan,
however, TO have this merit: That 1t
can be used. in part, for the training
of a less number of men and at less
cost in proportion. so that, should the
opinion of the country, when thor
oughly informed, come to favor the
principles upon which this measure
is based its application could be as
rapid or so gradual as the congress
may determine wise under the circum-
stances.
Ultimate Force of 100000.
1.-The bill here transmitted looks to
I the annual training of about 100000
men who, when trained, pass into the
reserve until ultimately there will be
available an aggregate force In the
active and reserve force of the coun
try of about 100000 men, The wa
! college will place itself at your dis
posal, either to study any other sug
gested plan or to advise upon modi-
fication of the draft herewith sub
mitted, should your committee desire
such notifications in any Of the de-
tails.
1.-THE questions at issue in any such
project as this are to measure first