South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-17
WARRINGTON

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE
house military committee practical
Is reached an agreement Thursday
in conference with Sec'y Baker AMI
Gen. March. chief OF staff TO post
pOne the war department reorganI-
zatiOn bill until the next session OF
congress and with 1t a large part If
the prospective debate over the fu-
ture military policy Of the country.
A suggestion by Chairman Dent
that a legislative rider on the army
appropriation bill continuing the eV-
isting war organization OF the de-
partment AMI the regular army for
another year be substituted for the
reorganization measure. met with
the approval Of Mr. Baker and APP
parently with that OF majority of
the committee members.
The proposal grew out OF a con-
ference at which Sec'y Baker and
the chief OF staff explained to the
committee the reorganization meas
Ure framed by the department,
providing for a regular army OF 500
O0o men TO be raised by voluntary
enlistment on flat three year
basis.
Time Il Too short.
Chairman Dent said il would be
impossible TO get such a bill through
congress IN the six remaining weeks
Of the session. Committee members
agreed With him, pointing out that
the war department bill on its face
appeared to oe a military policr
measure which abandoned the theo-
~ of universal military obligation.
Mr.. Baker insisted that this was not
the case; that no attempt 10 fix the
nations policy as 10 a peace time
army was involved but agreed that
the substitution of continuing au-
thOriiy appeared 10 be the wisest
course in view OF uncertainties Of
the situation abroad and lack OF
time for full discussion in congress.
The exact form of a rider is to
be studied by the general staff II
probably Will leave the strength Of
the force to presidential order with
in limits and subject to appropria-
ton limitations. The committee
will take up at once hearings on the
regular appropriation bill, which
provides as drawn for 5000 men.
Universal MiIit~-- Training.
Sec'y Baker ~ make no
! declaration in reea.J to universal
military service regulations saying
| that he would submit no proposal Of
that nature until the peace confer
ence had finished its work and the
/ obligations OF the nation could be
Sauged. He said the general staff
I had submitted several studies which
were still on his desk. Later, Rep.
Sanford sought 70 obtain Gen.
March's views on this question.
1.-The question of universal train
/ ing is a question of national policy -
said Gen. March. 1T is the duty OF
/ the general stan to submit accom-
nendations to the secretary of war
when they are called for. If they do
not get by the secretary. they are
stopped. The secretary has told you
/ that they are on his desk"
All OF the existing war time or
CARNATIONS such as the tank corps
transportation AMI motor transport
corps. independent air service and
the like are 10 be continued, with
the exception of the chemical war
fare service. under present plans.
I'VE are not in favor Of the use
of poison gas in war" Gen. March
I declared. Not that IL makes any
difference how you kill a soldier
but the gas lies on the ground and
penetrates back TO villages and kills
women and children. No civilized
nation ought to use it,"
Abandon Gas Warfare.
The general said that even before
the armistice was signed the Inter
national Red Cross was working fol-
an agreement among the belliger-