Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-07
UNIVERSAL ARMY
TRAINING PLAN TO
BE URGED FOR u. S.
America Now Rushing Small
Armies to France-Men Re-
Gently 81 viii Be Registered
in June

WASHINGTON, May america is
now shipping small armies to France In
response to the allied appeal for re-
serves. .
During May and June contemplated
shipments win more than equal the
lighting strength Of the combined Bel
gian and Portuguese forces on the
west front.
July and August will show a slight
decline in the average as added tom
mage is turned to the task of getting
across newly needed supplies In In
creased quantities. 1t is realized. too,
that troops moved late in the summer
will scarcely be needed for military
operations unless some disaster occurs
to the allies
In the fall and winter months the
work of building UP this country's
lighting forces abroad will be more
methodical. Divisions torn apart for
the purpose of brigading units with
the British and French will be brought
together and organizations left behind
will be sent to complete cohesive
all-American army.
1t is proposed to have registration
June 5 for all young men who have
reached 81 since the last registration.
This will create a new reservoir of class
1 men, now being rapidly depleted by
the heavy drafts of April and May. At
the present rate July 1 will find few
in class / remaining unless the war
department has completed its classifi-
cation of the new thousands.
Hence, there may be some slight
slowing up of calls during June and
July.
Meantime new and determined
movement is afoot in congress to in
sst upon universal military training.
1t is a part of the program to make
America fit for the Knockout no mat
ter how long that may be delayed.
A determined attempt to put univer-
sal military training in Americas great
army expansion program will be made
when the huge $1,000, 0o0, 900 army APP
preparation bill reaches the floor of the
house.
Advocates Of the system will propose
that young men be given three months
training in their nineteenth year, three
months in the twentieth, and six months
in the twenty-first. This plan will be
submitted as Z rider to the appropria-
ton bill, as its hackers believe univer-
sal training is the real foundation for
army increases.
Although the plan was defeated in
ministratioon, the big expansion pro-
gram has doubtless added strength to
the universal training forces. ma
jority of the Republicans have been
lined up behind the plan, it is claimed.
Representative Madden, Illinois, and
Representative Kahn, ranking RepublS-
can of the military affairs committee,
two of the leaders in the move, will this
week question war department officials
as to the advisability of using partly
disabled officers and men in training
the youths. should the rider be APP
proved They believe using the men
unfit for trench service will answer the
war department objection that no train
ing officers are available.
Universal training would make
much smoother working war machine"
Madden said today. The men of TWEEN
ty-one, who are to be taken into the
army as they become of age, would be
ready for the finishing training touch
es, the moment they were indicted into
service"
Opponents of the plan will seek to
obtain from Secretary Baker and other
officials a statement that the system
is not deemed advisable at this time, to
be used in defeating the measure on the
floor.