Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-03
DENT WON'T HANDLE
REORGANIZATION OF
UNITED STATEslARNY
Consequently Peace Time Mil
itary Policy Won't Be Set
tied Until Next Session.
BY L. G. Martin

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent.)
Washington, Jan. 3.-Secretary of
War Baker today advocated q temper
ary volunteer srmy of 100000 men to
facilitate the quick discharge of men
|who have already seen service. A bill
to authorize the organization. of this
army will soon be submitted to con-
gross, Baker told the house military
.s'onmittee., The amy, ne, explained,
would be of temporary nature and de-
signed to hasten the rehabilitation VI
the present forces.@ g&
Representative Dent, chairman Of the
house military committee, has refused
to handle the war department 3 reor-
'ganization billfi became known today.
Dents insurgency on this measure prsc
tically makes it certain that the peace
time military policy of this nation will
not be decided by the present demo
cratic congress.
Kahn Will Be Chairman.
Representative Kahn, who will be-
come chairman of the committee when
the republicans assume control of con
gress after March 4, will go to Europe
this spring to confer with General Per
shing and allies military leaders. Up
on data thus gathered, Kahn will build
an army reorganization bill.
Kahn and his republican colleagues
already have the general staff s plan
slated for the waste basket.
The situation is believed largely re-
sponsible for delay in presenting the
bill to congress. The war college has
been working on the measure for some
time. General March, chief of staff,
told members Of the senate military af
fairs committee, they said today, that
the bill would be presented in December
March outlined certain features of the
reorganization to these senators In
confidence. But December went by and
the bill was not presented. Whelmsf It
was withheld because of President Will
sons absence, because of the congress
sional situation or because of both, is
not clearly established.
Told Baker About It.
Dent, however, told Baker il so many
words, he said today, that he will not
handle the bill.
4" / have told Secretary of War Baker
that will not handle an army reorgen-
ization bill at this session of congress ;"
Dent said. "It would be silly to try
to put such a measure through in the
so working days remaining at this ses-
sion of congress-"
Kahn's statement was an indication
of the dissatisfaction many committee
members feel with the attituue of the
general staff.
"Before | enter into the considera-
ton Of an army bill, want to hear
from General Pershing and General Lig-
gett and others who have seen actual
fighting on the other side" Kahn said
obviously we cannot get them here
for this session Of congress
To Europe After This Session.
Furthermore, am going to Europe
Immediately after this session Of con.
gress to find out what ! can of the
English, French and Belgian army plans
and talk to any of our officers who may
still be on the other side at that time.
An army organization bill cannot
pass this session of congress, but an
army appropriation bill win have to be
passed.
As members of the house and senate
committees view it, fixing Of
a peace policy involves. among others.