Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-22
Senate Sub Committee
Recommends Legi station
Looking to Virtual Reorgan-
ization of American Army.
MILITARY TRAINING OF
BOYS LEADING FEATURE
One Big Army, Composed Of
Regular Army as Now Rec
ognized, and Citizens Army,
is Provided for,

Washington, Dec. 2!.-Legisla-
ton which would amount to a vir-
tual reorganization of the army
with protection from outside at
tack as a primary purpose and with
compulsory military training for
boys from l8 to 81 years of age, as
a leading feature, has been agreed
upon tentatively by the senate mil
itary subcommittee considering a
permanent military policy for the
nation. Senator Wadsworth of New
York, chairman of the subcommit-
tee, said tonight the legislation
would be put in final form during
the Christmas recess of congress
for presentation to the full COM
mittee when the senate reconvenes.
The legislation as agreed upon
by the subcommittee, Senator
Wadsworth said, is completely new
and bears no resemblance to the
army organization bill drafted by
the general staff and transmitted
to- the house and senate military
committee by Secretary Baker. The
committees present agreement, Sen
ator Wadsworth said, calls for
permanent standing peace army of
100000, although the committee
may possibly reduce this unmber
in the final draft. The smallest pos
ssible standing army that will meet
the demands of this country is the
aim Of the subcommittee, Chair
man Wadsworth said.
National Guard Part.
One big army composed of the
regular army as now recognized
and a reserve or citizens army, is
provided. OF the latter army the
national guard would be a part al
though the details of the organiz-
alton Of that service remain to be
worked out.
Youths within the prescribed age
limits would be required to take
four months military training with
provision made for either the regular
army or the national guard of the
various states being used in furnish
ing this training. The youths, how
ever, would be given an opportunity
to elect either taking this training
in a lump, or of joining the national
guard for fixed period during
which they would receive the same
amount of training as prescribed for
the four months period.
Upon completion OF this training,
the recruits would be placed in a
reserve army for period of five
years. but under no conditions, SEN
ator Wadsworth said, could the re-
servists be called upon to perform
military service except in case of
declaration of war. \
"While the bill will provide for
compulsory military training" Sem
ator Wadsworth said, there will be
no provision made for compulsory |
military service"
Another radical departure from
the present military system will be
the substitution of the term "serv-
ice" for corps, provision being made
for designating the quartermaster,
Judge advocate, ordnance and SIM
liar branches of services. Promo
tiohs, the bill provides, would be
guided by eligibility instead of SEMI
ority, selections being made from a
selected list.
The subcommittee also plans to
overrule the recommendation OF
Secretary Baker and General March,
CHEF of staff, to have the chemical
warfare service combined with the
engineering corps and instead will
make the former a separate service
along with the construction and
transportation branches.
Similar legislation also, is being
worked out by the house military |
subcommittee which Acting Chair
man Anthony said tonight will have
its army reorganization bill ready to
be taken up in the house early next
month. Under plans of the house
committee, however, the peace army
will include approximately 100000
enlisted men and $4,000 officers.
AS now plapned the house bill will
maintain the present status of the
national guard. 1t will also provide
for "plucking board" consisting of
five general officers to weed out
dead timber" among the commits
Sioued tr1cn