The Sentinel=record., 1918-11-14
lew LAWS NECESSARY
TO COVER SITUATION
Existoing Law Only Authorized tie
Maintenance Of a Regular Army Of
Approximately $4,000 Men-Plsns
Are Being Prepared TO Be Present
ed to Congress,

WASHING, ton, Nov l3.-I lans Tor the
reorganization OF the var department
and the army itself now are in process
OF formulation by the general staff
and soon viii be before Secretary Bak-
er Orders for the actual breaking IN
Of the army cannot be promulgated IN
ill these plans finally are completed
rs the demobc!ization program is de-
pendent TO some extent upon the adop-
tion OF q reorganization policy.
The secretary has ind.cated that
new legisation wi be necessary to
carry out the reor,anization and Is
expected 10 lay a definite program be-
fore congress nj the earliest momen,,
This may reopen the whole question
nf UNIVERSAL military training and
many Officials anticipate a loEg leg
islativc struggle before final action Is
taken on whatever policy Mr.. Baker
many purposes.
Existing law authorizes the main~
tcnance Of a regular army of APP
jroxima1eN 5000 men. Mfiie it
VS. not possible rs vet TO forecast
the number OF American troops thas
must lie employed in Europe, even
after the Ieace treaties have been
signed. military men Believe nav fhat
the authorized regular establishment
cannot provide an adequate force for
all purposes at home and a0ruad. w..
Of the 100000 men ow under arms
probably not more than 100 700 are IN
- ,VtFa H. 1Naa l.
ton of peace. There were some 79OU
Officers and about l20.100 men i'll tic
regular army when war was declared
Expiration of cnlistments, however
probably has served to reduce TINS
considerably and all wa" time enlist
ments are TOR the war period only.
Thousands OF Officers now in tht
service are on temporary commissions
in the regular establishment. Thes'
commissions were issued for Il def
mite period of years that men mish
DO held. though the general attitude
Of the department would not indieat
any intention of holding such officer
against their will when the war emerg-
ency has passed.
The number cf men necessary to b
maintained in Europe probably will 0t
worked ont by General Pers hing
staff and since similar calculations TO
the United states and its possession
are being made here. and 1T Is eX
pectcd that the SIZE OF the army 10
which it will DE necessary to provid'
soon. win be arrived at
The general stalas recommends
tions as To the way The army is Il
De formed are expected to emDouy I'M
principle OF universal military train
ing. A bill prepared By the staff Jus
before the United States entered IN
war, outlined general scheme Whic
Is likely to be again advocated mod
flied in the light OF war experience
and tho results Of the operation 0
the seleetive draft system.
at this time 1t was planned .
continue the garrisons for the fhilip
pines, Hawaii and Panama on VOL
untary basis by selecting men WI
elected army hfe after they had pass
ed through their periods OF tralnh-
Outside of these overseas forces, now
ever, the staff proposed to remoo
cl the standinE army into Il str'ctI
training force. composed OF oItlcer
and non commissioned officers WI
should be developed into experts |
getting raw material quickly ln'
share and through whose hands yea
after year. should pass the classe
called to the colors for training.
Both the commissioned and non
commissioned ranks OF this trainin
forces, it vas planned, should be re
cruited from men who displayed abil
ity during their training
There is reason to expect that son
project will again be brought forwar
although neither President Wilson nc
Secretary Baker is nov Commute
TO universal training as a nationi
policy
IN his last rcfer Mr. Bakef said