New-York tribune., 1919-11-01
General, Setting Figure as
Limit, Also Disagrees
With War Department
on Universal Training
Urges Six Months Service
Commander Objects 10 Cen
eral Staff Projecting Con-
troll Into Details of Line

WASHINGTON. Oct 3l.--Dissenting
in many important respects from tho
program recommended by the War Do
partment and the general staff. General
Pershing told the military committees
Of Congress to-day that 900 men.
raised entirely by voluntary enlistment,
should be the outside figure considered
for a standing army.
He favored universal military train
ing to provide an emergency reserve.
but thought general educational work
should be combined with it and military
discipline somewhat relaXed' 50 the
system would be in complete harmony
with democratic institutions. lie fixed
six months as the training period.
The department had recommended an
army Of more than 900 900, with a
system of universal training not en-
bracing the educational feature. Its
recommendation for training period
was three months.
23l General staff Officers Too Many
Departing again from the expressed
views Of the department, the general
declared army purchasing should be re-
organized in a new bureau apart from
tho Quartcrmastcr Corps, and that a
separate department of the government
should be organized to coordinate and
supervise military, naval and CONNER
cial aeronautics.
The general considered the depart
ment's request for 23l general staff
officers excessive. and made clear his
opposition to any effort by the staff to
extend its authority into the details Of
the department bureaus and OF the line.
During mis- day OF testimony before
The two committee, which opened a
series of special Joint sessions to hear
his views on peace time reorgan iZatiOn
Of The army, the former commander of
the American ENpeditionary Forces sew
eral times expressed his unfamillarIty
with the present makeup and policy Of
the general staff, and emphasized that
he was speaking directly from his eN-
pericncc in the field But he did not
his opinions on the abstract questions :
presented by committee members.
Against Interference With Line
When one Representative asked
whether he approved an apparent tend
ency of the STAFF to project its control
into details of the line he brought his
fist down upon the table and snapped ::
II certainly do not!"
He was equally emphatic when a
( Senator asked whether the staff ought
now TO take the military committees
into It's confidence about the general
situation in the army.
81 mn quite sure Of IT, he quickly
replied
Only once or twice did the question
ing lead him into discussion OF the
activities of the American armies in
France, though that is expected TO come
in for moro detailed consideration be
fore he completes his testimoy. He
viii appear again tomorrow. and his
statement, which is expected to he the
last heard by the committees before
they begin framing reorganization leg
islatlon, may Run into next week.
Advocates Citizens Reserve
Discussing the value of military
trimming, General Pershing said:
Military training makes better
citizens. It's benefits should be extend
ed 10 all our young men. Through ser
vice it increases their physique it
broadens their view OF life, and it is
/ democratic.'
With universal service established
: he continued, the military establish
mcnt could be made up first OF Il small
/ party of regulars. efficient for ex-
peditionary forces, which may be caled
out to sustain our obligations on tho
American continent, and to garrison
outlying possessions, which would be
| backed up by a force III training, and
| behind that citizens reserve
General Pershing discussed IN detail