The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-03
BAKER TO URGE
BUYING CAMPS
Secretary VIII Ask Views of
Congress on Holding
Present Sites.
TO COST S12,OOO,OOO
WithhOlds Location of Places
Recommended by War
Department.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2. - Secretary
Baker said to-day he intended to seek
the views of Congress on the question
cantonments are located. He said the
War Department thought some OF
these camps should be made perma-
nent, and that il would cost abou,
Sl2.000,000 to acquire the sites al
ready approved for this purpose. The
matter will be brought up by the Sec
retary when ne appears tomorrow
before the House Military Committee
Senator Borah of Idaho. speaking
in the Senate earlier in the day, ex-
pressed the hope that Mr.. Baker
would not have these sites purchased
without consulting Congress. Demo-
cratic Leader Martin said in. his op,n-
ion no funds were available and addi-
tional legislation would be necessary.
Keep Camp sites Secret.
Secretary Baker would not disclose
what training camp sites had been rec
cmmenied by the General Staff for per-
manent retention. He said specifically,
however that the disposition of flying
fields was not now involved.
The Secretary indicated that This pro-
gramme had no relation to recommends i
tions that may be made at some future
time with respect 10 the permanent mill
tary policy. Since there is to he a
military establishment in any case, he
said. the acquisition of several of the
cantonment sitos would he of benefit to
the service. He added that they could
be used for summer mobilizations OF
I for divisional or even larger manpuVreS.
a. existing permanent IA cilites for the
army do not provide any post where
! quarters or grounds are extensive
enough for these purposes
Within the next few days. Mr.. Baker
said. the Army War College will COM
/ plete the army reorganization bill upon
| which 1t has been working and he
with then seek hearings before the Mil.
tary Committee to take UP the pro,
posals.
1t is now understood that the Wal
! College bill embodies the general stan
and departmental reorganization plan!
in addition to the necessary Legislative
provisions under which tables OF organ.
ization for the regular army can be is.
sued. but there Is nothing to indicate
that II goes beyond the regular army OF
touches the question Of permanent mill
tary policy
Status of Artillery 70 he FIXED.
Many auxiliary services and uni,s
were created during the war for which
there is no authority in the regular mill
tary statutes The new act will give op-
portun!ty for these to get permanent
status and also will state the views o.
the army itself as to the stress to be
laid upon such new branches Of the mill
tary establishment as the air service.
with the presentation OF the reorgan'
ization bill the Congressional commit
tees will be told OF the detailed expen'
ditures to be made under the appropri'
atoms already submitted These pro-
vide for a regular army Of half mil
lion men. roughly. but the estimates dc
not show the importance that is to be
attached hereafter to such services and
the Tank Corps, artillery, aircraft
TRANSFORMATION Corps. chemical warfar7
service or any other allied branch oi
the army.