The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-11
Universal Service Discus
sion Of Past Few Months
Brought To Head
CREATE RESERVE OF
OVER THREE MILLION
Action On Bill At This Ses-
sion Is Thought To Be
Unlikely
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bx ASSOCIATED PRESS.
Washington, Feb. 10-The senate
military committee reported favorably
today the bill creating the military
and naval citizen reserve forces based
on universal military service. Action
at this congress is unlikely, but the
bill brings to definite head the uni
versal se\vice sentiment on the last
few 4nonths and offers specific plan
about which public sentiment can
crystalline. The bill requires six
months training, without pay, for all
youths during their nineteenth year.
Exception Is confined to members of
the regular army and navy, physically
unfit. Those who are the sole sup
port Of dependent relatives and those
whose religion forbids them to bear
arms. It Is estimated the bill will
provide training for half a million
boys annually and create a reserve
Of three millions at the end of nine
years.
Primarily the bill provides that all
men citizens, or those who have de-
clared their intention to become citi-
zens shall undergo six months mill
tary or naval training in the year in
which they reach the age of 10 or in
the year when they first become liable
to such service up to the age Of &c.
All men receiving such training would
be held in army or navy reserve until
they reach the age Of %.
The bill submitted by the commit
tee differs in many respects from the
plan being worked out by the army
general staff and was prepared by a
subcommittee with the assistance of
Captain v. H. Moseley, who was for
time a member of the general
staff,
The measure at the outset contains
a provision that in the first year OF
its operation. the periods of training
should be three instead of six months
Under the terms of the bill exemp-
ton from the proposed military train
ing would incluGS the following:
Who Are Exempted.
Members of permanent military OF
naval forces of the Unoted States.
Persons physically unfit.
Persons on whose earnings father
mother, brother, sister, wife or chile
is wholly dependent for support.
Members of any religious sect OIL
organization now organized and ex.
isting. whose creed forbids them Il
bear arms In war, would be trained
in non-combatant branches of mill
tary or naval service.
Persons convicted of a felony or o.
VIGOROUSLY bad character would b
trained in special units.
Persons who have completes {
course of military instruction approx
ed by the secretary of war, or score
4 tary of navy, would be allowed cred,
It consisting of deduction from th'
training period Of not more than on'
month for each year in which the,
, have completed such course to th'
satisfaction of the secretaries of wal
or navy.
No substitute may be accepted ant
no one would be permitted to escap'
training by payment of money or 9th
or inducement. While undergoing
training all would receive expenses
and clothing and medical attendance
Az a further and drastic means O
compelling training the bill woul'
prohibit the employment of any per
SON up to the age of % years ''wh'
l. or has been liable to be traine'
under this act, unless he hiss GER
tif;cate of training or unexpired GER
tificate of temporary exemption O.
a certificate Of permanent exemption
from training"
For administering the army train
ne the country would be divided int
districts by the secretary of war.
Each person at the time of regis
ton would be permitted to express
preference for the army or navy.
In the event of defensive war o
of imminent danger thereof the pres
;dent would call out all or any par
If the reserve army or the reserv
navy by classes; the youngest cias
first. The reserve army or the re
eve navy could not be used in case
If strikes or other Industrial dis
putes.