Republican farmer., 1919-08-08
WOULD COMPEL YOUTH
 OF 19 YEARS TO TAKE
 ARMY COURSE IN CAMP
Baker Wants a Field Army of 1,25O,OOO Men in Bill, Which He Submits to Sen ate and He Would Force, Young Men to Take Training.

Washington, Aug. 4-Main-
 tenance of one field army with
 a war strength of .25O,OOO men Is proposed in bill establishing,
 permanent military policy
 which was sent to Congress to-
 day by Secretary Baker. The
 active force of this army would
 be 5iO,OOO regulars while the remainder would be young men
 who had taken a three months
 military training course. which
 would be compulsory for all i0
 year old youths.
 This reserve strength would be used
 to fill out the 20 infantry divisions
 and one calvary division into which
 1t is proposed to divide the regular army.
 The plans were embodied in a bill which represents the policy of the War Department with respect to the peace time military establishment. Under the measure all special services built up during the war would be Aiio hiildiHeO as separate branches K cept the chemical warfare service which would be merged with the en- gineers' corps.
 Three months military training for youths of 19 would be made compul- sorry and promotion of officers by seniority would be abolished. Secre- tary Baker said the war had shown this system of promotion to de defec- tive.
 Washington, Aug. 4-No change in the existing law with regard to the organization of the National Guard and its relation to the regular army wass suggested. MT. Maker said it was assumed that the national defence act federalizing the guard would be retained in force.
 Under the War Departments plan, youths would be subject to military service for two years after complet- ing the course of military training and in the event of war the selectivs service act in force during the great war would become opera tive.
 Secretary Baker said in a letter ac- company1ng the bill that the plan had not yet been referred to General Per- sh1ng, but that pending his return from France it could be used as the basis for hearings which the Senate Military Committee is to have before drafting legislation establishing a. permanent military policy.
 The bill as drawn" said Secretary Baker, provides for a system of uni- Tersal training for a brief period ap- 'licable to all male citizens with suit lb1e provision for exemptions and de- serments.
 TT does not, however, provide for Iny reserve obligation, since it is un- with a system of uni- 7ersal service in time of emergency. The period suggested for training is brief, but not too bfief, it is believed o secure a careful stock taking of the 1ealth and physical condition of the 7oung manhood of the nation and the institution of such remedial measures IS may be practical, not too brief to initiate the habits of orderliness, CO., ordination and self care which proved 90 valuable in the recent training of men preparing for active military ser vice. Nor is this period believed too brief to entail great advantage to the country should any future emergency require it to call for service.
 Regarding the chemical warfare 'ervice, MT. Baker wrote:
 The work appropriate to be done oy the chemical warfare service in peace times ought. in my judgment, o be carried on in the engineers de- 'artment and should consist of such esearch and prepara tion as would enable our army always to defend it. ei1 against the aggressive use of hem1cal weapons and to overTnatch my adversary in offensive operations mould they be used against us.''
 The secretary also proposed that he Inspector Generals department 'e abolished, saying it was clear that he fnsection of purely military train ng ought to be centralized and car- lea out under the direction of tAe raining division of the general staff
 Tt will be observei," MT Baker continued that the bill suggests no hanse in the existing law with re- ara to the organization of the na- ooal guard and it's relation to the eguiar army. It is assumed the na- onaI oefense act federalizing the uard will be retained in force and nat If any readjustment of it's rela- OnS to the iu