Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-14
ADJT.-GEN. y. r. JOHNSON
SPEAKS HIS MIND
Comes Ont In Opposition TO the INT
/ rersai Military Training RiII


Montpelier. Aug. 12.-Adiutaut Cen
eral Herbert T. Johnson I'm a letter
made public to-day attacks sections 3
ana "A of the Kahn -Chamberlin-K Kahn
universal military training hill. The
first he says, smacks of German milf
tarism, and the second is an ATTEMPT to
belittle the National Guard
His announcements is as follows
These sections. in my opinion. should
be brought to the attention of the poo
pie of the State. Section provides
for conscription of youths Of 10 into
the regular army or navy for one and
one-half years in times of peace and
they could then be sent to any part of
the world that the United States sends
its troops. | do not believe that the
people of Vermont want any such bill
as this enacted into law. l do not wish
to be understood as opposing universal
training for I am firm advocate of n
compulsory military training act. I
believe that universal military train
ing is necessary step toward ade-
quate national preparation and for tho
proper development of the citizen SOL
der Of the nation, hut this section of
this bin goes way beyond the necessi-
ties and savors too much Of German
/ militarism to suit the people of this
country. Section "a, dealing with the
National Guard, is a step backward
and il an attempt evidently to BELT
tie the National Guard and rclegate it
to the status of purely state police
| force and as this branch Of the service
proved beyond any question its value
/ to the nation in the past war every eff
/ fort should be made to strengthen it
| in the future as upon this branch OF
/ la ln
depend in the FIRST shock of sudden con-
: flct.
There WAS introduced on August 3
! by Mr.. Wadsworth what is known as
! the Baker bill, which contains tho
army reorganization bill and univer-
sci military bill. This bill provides
/ for IA very safe and sane universal
! training act it seems to me, as the OBJ
! tcctional feature of the Chamborlin-
Kahn bill section ., is eliminated ana
! it provides for three instead of SIX
months training However. this bill
provides for a regular army of 100000,
which it seems to me is double the size
necessary in times of peace, for this or
any other country can never nope 10
| maintain in peace times an army OF
sufficient size to handle the situation
in case of war.
at would have to depend as it always
has. upon an army of citizen soldiers
therefore the regular army need be mann
tanned only of sufficient size TO proper
~ police the United states and its posses
sions and to furnish instructors Tor 'he
training of the citizen soldier
THE estimate of the cost Of our army
under this bill is $500 0O0,o10 which is
nearly four times the cost of our regular
army prior to the war.
1T would therefore urge that you study
these two bills and advocate the passage
of the sancr Baker bill with the size cut
10 approximately 225, 900 for | believe TINS
more nearly represents the desires or the
people Of this State as well as the coun'
try at large.
"HERBERT r. JOHNSON,
THE Adjutant General
The Chamberlin-Kah bill. section nine
is
"In case voluntary enlistments shal
be insufficient to maintain the regular
army, navy, or marine corps, ut the mum
hers from time to time required by law
then so many men as may be necessary
10 maintain the regular army, navy, ant
marine corps at such numbers may DC
selected, pursuant to regulation IRON
among the men completing their training
period and the men SO selected shal
serve in the army, navy, or marine corp
for an additional period of one year. Th'
number so selected from each state OF
Territory shall bear, as nearly as may be
the same proportion to the whole number
Of men so selected as the number or mei
from that State or Territory serving fo'
training purposes during the last pre-
ceding calendar year bears to the whol'
number so serving during such calendar
year" Section "a is
THAT tne National Guard active
militia, and naval militia of the severa
States may be called forth by the Pres
dent only to execute the laws of th'
Union. suppress instructions or repe
invasions, and shall not he required Il
serve outside of the territorial limits o
the United States or for more than three
months in any one year.