Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-17
Yl &. GOULD LINCOLN.

M Baker sent to Chairman
" " Wadsworth of the Senate
military affairs committee
and to Chairman Kahn of the CORE
spending House committee letter
practically announcing his support OF
universal military training for the
young men of the country the sup
porters of universal military training
heaved a long sigh of relief. For they
believed that the advocacy OF the
training of the young men In arms
and military discipline by the secre-
tary of War effectually takes the
question out of partisan politics. They
believed that the President would
support his Secretary of War in this
position. Strong republican leaders
have long since been outspoken in
their support of universal military
training.
But while the friends of the training
plan are rejoicing that the admins
tration has finally lined up with them,
they realize that they have fight on
their hands to get through the legis-
lation they desire. There will be thou
/ sands of persons in this country who
will oppose military training for one
reason or another. Some of them con-
slider that it will lead to militarism.
Others believe that wars are a thing
of the pastor else why the league
of nations. And still others are op-
posed to spending the money required
| for military training of the young
men Of the country when the war
debt is staggering and the prospects
Of other wars declared to be dim.
May Become Law.
The fight to put universal training
across. however. is a long way ad-
vanced. It is likely that it will be en-
acted into law at the present session
| of Congress. Certainly bill provid-
ing for permanent military policy
will be put forward and passed either
| at the present special session or dur
| Ing the coming regular session, which
begins in December.
Universal military training will be
! big item in the solution of the per-
manent military policy Of the coun-
try. Its advocates have insisted that
through universal military training It
will be possible at all times to have a
| reservoir of trained men upon which
| to fall back in time of war. That be-
cause Of this reservoir, it will be pos
sible for the United States to continue
with small standing or Regular
Army.
The distinction between universal
military training and universal mill
tary service is being sharply drawn.
Universal military training does not
of itself entail universal military
service. In fact, the strongest sup
porters Of universal military training
are opposed to universal military
service, except-and be this well un-
derstoodNin time Of war; This is the
stand taken also by Secretary Baker.
The Secretary on August transmit
ted to Senator Wadsworth and Repre-
sentative Kahn the draft Of an Army
bill prepared by the general staff
which provides for universal military
training of the young men and at the
same time provides for standing
army Of approximately $4,000 officers
and men. He explained that he was
merely sending the bill to the COM
mfttee as basis for hearings on a
permanent military policy and that
he had not given his approval to
everything the bill contained.
Make Act Permanent.
Secretary Baker pointed out. how
ever. that the bill proposes to make
the present selective service act-the
draft act-permanent. In other
words, that when war is declared by
the United States the men Of the
country will be called upon for mill
tary service and the service will be
universal" II the youth Of the coun-
try has been trained in arms. when
the call comes in war time they will
be ready. But it will not be possible
to demand Of them military service,
unless there is war, under the pro-
posed act.
One feature Of the general stairs
plan is worrying friends of universal
military training. 1t is the proposal