Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-17
REORCAN|z|NGPLAN
FOR ARMY HALTED
Secretary Baker and House
Committee Agree to Delay
Legislation a Year.
TO AWAIT PEACE TREATY

iyear through agreement reached in
tconference between the House military
affairs committee with Secretary Baker
and Gen. March, chief OF staff, just
about the time that the proposed re-
Organization bill was being made pub
! lie at the War Department
F.: A suggestion by Chairman Dent that
legislative rider on the Army appro-
priation bill, continuing the existing
war organization Of the department
and the Regular Army for another
year, be substituted for the reorganiza-
ton measure met with the approval
| of Mr.. Baker and apparently with that
OF majority OF the committee mem
| bers.
| Departments Bill Explained.
| The proposal grew out of confer
ence at which Secretary Baker and the
chief of staff explained to the COM
mittee the reorganization measure
framed by the department, providing
for Regular Army of 100000 men
to be raised by voluntary enlistment
on nat three-year basis. The bill
also would have made permanent the
absolute control over all branches of
1
| of staff as a wartime necessity.
! Mr.. Baker insisted that no attempt
to Ak the nations policy as to peace.
time Army was involved. but agreed
that the substitution of continuing
authority appeared to be the best
course in view OF uncertainties OF tne
situation abroad and lack OF time Tor
full discussion in Congress.
Will Work Out Form Of Rider.
! The exact form Of rider is to be
| studied out by the general STAN. It
| probably will leave the strength or
| the force to presidential order Witnin
limits and subject to Appropriation
| limitations.
| secretary Baker would make no dec
| laration in regard to universal mill
| tary service suggestions, Saying ne
| would submit no proposal OF tnas
! nature until the peace conference mad
! finished its work and the obligations
| of the nation could be sauged.
Later Representative Sanford sought
I to obtain Gen Marsh's views on this
| question.
| IL a question OF national policy. said
| Cen. March. "It is the duty OF the
general star to submit recommenda-
| tions to the Secretary or war wnen
| they are called for. II they 40 NOT
! get by the Secretary. they are stopped.
are on his desk"
Now Under Presidential Order.
Gen. March said the Army was now
organized under presidential order
and the plan included in the stan bill
was practically that organization. A
total strength of 5os.0o0 men is pro-
yided for, he said, to Be organized
| into twenty divisions. grouped In hve
| corps, The total annual cost he nxed
at $1.1s5,ooo. 600. estimated on 2 re-
turn to a base pay OF Us = month tor
priyates and exclusive Of $S6,0oo.00o
| Carried in the fortifications bill.
All existing wartime organizations,
such as the Tank Corps. Transporta-
! ton and Motor Transportation Corps.
! independent air service and the like.
are to be continued. with the excep-
ton of the chemical warfare service.
/ The general said that even before
the arnnistice was signed, the Inter-
/ national Red Cross was working for
an agreement among the beiligerents
/ for abandonment of gas warfare. He
added that the peace congress was ex-
| pected to prohibit it's use absolutely.
Provisions Of Bill Enumerated.