The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-11-25
ARMY PLAN TO BE READY WHEN
 CONGRESS SITS
Baker Will Outline Ideas of
 General Staff for Peace Organization.

Washington, Nov. 25.---The War De- partments plan for the peace time army is now in process of formation and will be presented to Congress when it reassembles. Not only will an outline of 1t be given in Secretary Bakers report, but it is believed a bill will be framed by the General Staff to carry out the ideas for the new reg | ular army.
 The greatest interest is being taken in what the Secretary's plan may con- template. Republican members of the Military Committee of Congress as- sert that unless it provides for uni versal military training with an ac- tual professional standing army held down to a minimum, it will not meet with favor. They intimated strongly that a universal training law would be passed by the next Congress re- gardless of any action taken by the present Congress.
 Representative Kahn (CaL), who will be the chairman of the House Military Committee in the next Con grees, long has been one of the lead CTS for universal training and will present a bill for it when the Sixty sixth Congress convenes. He believes he is certain of practically unanimous support of the Republicans. The plan will receive some Democratic support tCp, particularly that of Senator Cham
 berlain (Ore.-, the present chairman
 of the Military Committee in the up
 per branch. Democratic support will
 not be needed in the House, where the
 Republican majority is larger
 While there is nothing definite yet
 on which to base their opinion the
 present minority in Congress is afraid
 that the Administration has not un- der consideration a universal training
 plan for peace time. Unless they are
 mistaken an effort will be made to de-
 lay action on army reorganization un-
 til the Republicans assume control af-
 ter March next. In the press of
 other appropriation measures and of
 expected reconstruction work this ,. ought to be easy of accomplishment,
 Republican leaders believe.
 Tho fight of the pIoper American ; Navy will be linked with the Army fight. The Republican position Is that
 the American Navy should be equal
 to the British navy Not, as they have made plain, because of any fear that . Great Britain and he United States now or for centuries to come ever will De enemies, but because both should bear equal burdens and responsibility ? In controlling the seas America $ need TOT a navy commensurate with It's merchant marine and with the po- sltion 1t now occupies among the world ; towers IS the basis of the Republican attitude.
 The position taken by the Democrats ] evidenced thus far is that authnriza-
 tons for an enormous number of Q ships of all sorts should be made inn I mediately. Both are in agreement s that the American Navy should equal I tthat Of Great Britain. The big differ e ence at which they are stciking is the
 question when the authorizations shall
 become effective. The fear has beer
 expressed by these Democrats in close
 touch with the Navy Department that the peace conference may limit arn7a :
 Fments by restricting each nation to fife
 present naval strength, with the ad- It dlt1on of those ships building and au- s thor1zed by Congress, according to +bo n Democratic view. :, The side of the question taken hy U the republicans is that they are will. ing to authorize any number of ships 5: mat the Administration may desire T 1T put With the stitpultion that no work Il snail be done toward building these - vessels until the Versailles peace, con terence acts on the Presidents sug- o gestion that all armaments be reduces e to the mtnlmum point consistent will 1T GorneStlo safety. If the action fore. 't cast Is taken, no ground will be lost d they point out. On the other hand i
 the conference agrees to reduce arma.
 nents very materially the public purse K Will not have been dipped into for an d 'ther useless expenditure.