Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-21
TO REORGANIzE THE ARMY
Military Experts Recommend Force
Of Five Hundred Thousald
TO CONSIDER UNIVERSAL SERVICE

ITO CONSIDER UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Probability is That the Next Con-
gress VIII Do Something Definits-
Gen. March Thinks That All Arms
Except Poison Gas Should Be Con-
tinued-Pay to be Reduced 10 Pre-
War Basis.
| The house military committee prac-
tically reached an agreement in con-
ference with Secretary Baker and Gen.
March, chief OF. star, last Friday, to
postpone the war department reorgan-
ization bill until the next session Of
congress and with 1t large part OF the
prospective debate over the future mill
itary policy Of the country.
A suggestion by Chairman Dent that
q legislative rider on the army appto-
priation bill continuing the existence
war organization Of the department
and the regular army for another year,
a substitute for the reoreanization
measure. met with the approval OF Mr..
Baker. and apparently with that OF q
majority Of the COMMITTEES members
The proposal grew odt Of a confer
ence at which Secretary Baker and the
chief Of stan explained the reorganfxa-S
ton measure framed by the depart
[ment, providing for regular army Of
5000 men to be raised by VOLUNTARY
enlistment on fiat thrce-year basis
The bill also would have made perma-
nent the absolute control over ali
branches Of the army now exercised by
the chief Of stan as wartime neces-
lsity.
Chairman Dent said It would be Inn
possible to get such a bill through con-
gress In the present session. Commit
tee members agree. pointing out that
the war. department. bill on It's face ap-
peared to be military policy measure
which abandoned the theory OF uniyer-
| sal military obligation. Mr.. Baker In
SISTED that this was not the case; that
| no attenpt to fix the nations policy
| as to a peace time army was involved;
but agreed that the substitution Of cons
Itinuing authority appeared to be the
wisest course In view Of uncertainties
of the situation abroad and lack OF
tirle for congressional discussion.
The exact form Of a rider Is to be
studied by the general staff. II proba-
bly, win leave the strength Of the force
to presidential order within limits and
subject to appropriation limitations
The committee will take up at once
Hearings on the regular appropriation
bill which provides as drawn for boo,&
600 men. s 2.
Secretary Baker would make no De-
clarations in regard to universai milf
tary service suggestions, saying that he
would submit no proposal OF that "a
ture until the obligations OF the nation
could be saused.
4The question of universal trai2ing
lis a question of national policy said
General March. ''It Is the duty Of the
general stan to submit recommends
tfons to the secretary OF war whenthey
re called for. II they do not set by
the secretary. they are stopped"
General March said the army was:
now organized under presidential order
and The plan included in the stan bin
was practically that organization. A
total strength OF 100000 men Is pro-
yided for he said, to be organized into
20 divisions grouped In i've corps. The
total annual cost he Ded at yi.18t.- .
o06. estimated on q return TO base
pay of SIS a month for privates and
exclusive Of sss,ooo.ooo carried In the
fortiacations bin.
All Of the existing war time organ
|izations such an the tank corps, trans
portation and motor transportation
corps, independent air service and the
like, are to be continued, with the ex-
eeption Of the chemical warfare serv-
ice.
1--WE are not In favor Of the pse OF
poison gas In war" General March
declared, mot that It makes any differ
ence how you kill soldier, but tae gas
lies on the ground and penetrates back
to villages and kills women and chm
dren. No civilized nation ought to
use it,
II the president is given authority to
continue wartime agencies Of the army.
General March said, the plan mapped
out in the bill will be followed. 1t pro-
vides for six officers Of the rank OF
lieutenant general to take care Of corps
commanders, and fixes the chief OF
stan with the rank Of general as the
officer taking rank and precedence
over all other officers" q &
One of the most important provi-
sions Of the BILL General March safd.
was that of giving reserve corps off,
GERS rank including that OF colonel, in
stead of major as now provided.
There ought not to be such hamp-
ering in rank Of men coming In from
civil life," he said.
Another condition which must be
remedied. the general said, was that
limiting permanent commissions from
civil life to the grade Of second iieu-
tenant. II that is to be continued. he
said, "the men who fought the war;
would be lost. for those who had prov
ed themselves in action would not con-
sent to enter the regular service In
that grade.
The bill provides for absolute pro-
motion by selection Of all officers OF
rank Of captain or higher
General March said the national
guard was at present "out Of existence
and added that until the men who
really compose the old guard and are
now in France have come home. not
even the governors or adjutant gener-