New-York tribune., 1919-06-17
Points to Allied Plans
Declares Britain Figures on
$4,000 Men, Even if
Draft Is ecess sary
Ne1c 1'orE Tribune
WGShinUtOn BurenM

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 16.-No less
an army than 1000 men will be sufi-
cient for the United States, even un-
der the league of nations and even
if every other nation does it's part,
General Peyton C. March, chief of
staff, told the Senate Military Affairs
Committee to-day.
With Secretary Baker, General March
was making an appeal to the committee
to reverse the action of the House in
reducing the appropriations for the
army next year. The House action
provides for an army averaging 300,-
600 men. The department asked for
appropriations for an average of 70O,-
600.
General March insisted that the
league of nations would not end the
necessity for armies. Senators who
are opposing the league declared after J
the hearing that points made by the
general will figure largely in the argu-
ments of anti-league Senators in the
debate on the Knox resolution.
Offers Anti-League Points
Some of the points made by General
March which the league opponents ex-
pect to use, and which were the out
standing points of his testimony, we're:
1-Five hundred thousand men for
the United States might be enough
for the United States army if all the
signatories to the league do their
share.
2-Great Britain has fixed her
peace army at 952, 1000 men, far in
excess of the old pre-war and pre-
league days.
3-France has fixed her army at
figure larger than that of Great
Britain.
4. Italy has so far made no move
toward reducing her army at ALL
5. Great Britain is planning to
raise her peace army by conscripton,
which point is relished by such Sena-
tors as Borah, who have contended
all along that the only way in which
an army could be raised to police
Europe and take part in Old World
quarrels would be by conscription.
After General March had told of the
failure of the British to raise their
army in peace-t time by the volunteer
system and their resort to conscrp-
ton, Senator Frelinghuysen asked:
General March, have you read Arti-
Gle X of the league of nations COW
enant ?"
100000 Might Be Enough"
81 don't recall it by number" re-
piled General March with a bland
smile
"Well," explained Senator Freling-
huysen, it is the article in which we
guarantee to protect the sovereignty
and territorial integrity Of all the
nations members of the league Is
it your opinion that we will be able
to do our share of that with an army
of only 5OOOOO?"
If all the signatories to the league
do their share, should say 100000
might be enough for our share" re-
piled General March.
At another time during the question:
ing General March replied "Ah, yes, l
know" to statement that war was 60
ing to be abolished, with such dry pa
tience as to draw laugh from most
Of the Senators. Secretary Baker and
General March were both questioned as
to the future of gas warfare.
"I suspect" Mr.. Baker said, chat gas
warfare will be forbidden as we get
more civilized. But there are two
views of that subject. Some feel that
gas warfare is desirable because it's
objective is to knock out the man with
out killing him. Others regard it as
wickedly indiscriminating in it's disre-
gard of the innocent bystander."
Chamberlain Questions Baker
u have been informed" Senator
Chamberlain replied, chat 80 per cent
of the casualties sustained by the
American forces in France were by
gas. Also, we have been informed that
if Germany had been as fast in the de-
velopment of the possibilities of war
gas as we were they would have been
able to decimate our army before we
got started. AS it was, we developed
the best gas, but not in time to use it.
Why should we stop it now, as you
seem practically to recommends"
II did not recommend that we should
discontinue it's development" declared
Secretary Baker. ~ feel that we
should continue its scientific develop
ment so ms to be ready to employ gas
il anybody else uses it against us.
1t has been the policy OF the depart