The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-19
WADSWORTH PLANS
BROAD ARMY PROBE
Probable Senate Military Head
Wants Commission to
Draft New Bill.
MANY SOLDIERS "SORE"
Pay and Mail SnarIs Have
Created Prejudice Against
Whole System.
MANY SOLDIERS "sORE"
specinl DsaratcA 10 TIE Aun.

Special DespotcA 10 THs suH.
wAsHiNGToN, March 1s.-As soon as
the next Congress- Is called an effort will
be made by Senator wadsworth IN. ".
who in all probability will be the new
chairman OF the Senate Military Com
mittec. to have a commission formed.
consisting of representatives of every
branch of the army and OF both branches
OF Congress, to investigate the whole
army situation and draft a bill to pro-
vide the proper sort of military estab-
lishment.
In this effort Senator wadsworth will
have the strong support of Senator
Chamberlain (Ore.). the Democratic
Senator who has been at the head of
the committee for some years.
Houss Bul Inadequate.
The army bill as passed by the House
IL looked upon In the Senate as totally
inadequate for the United States. 1t
provided for an army of $4,000, looked
upon generally as being about as bad as
the military establishment prior to the
entry of the United States into the world
war. The Senate Military Committee
amended this measure to provide for an
army of slightly more than 100000. but
even that did not meet favor.
1t is contemplated to draft such a bill
that even IL 1t fails to provide for estab-
fishing universal military training 1t will
lay the foundation for such a policy In
the future, II was said to-day.
1t Is recognized at the Capitol that
the way a great many returning soldiers
from France have been treated on their
arrival here has done great deal to
dampen the enthusiasm of the nation
for universal military training, and one
of the functions of the proposed Joint
civil and military commission will be to
probe to the bottom of that situation.
There has been a persistent rumor OF
the unpleasant suggestion that some
forces In the present army organization
have been perfectly content to see SOL
ders shipped about the country In cars
little better than cattle cars and &C
corded treatment at camps and in hos
pitfalls far below the standard they should
receive because Of their attitude in OPP
position to universal training or a large
army.
Many Soldiers Disxusted.
The terrible snarl into which the army
pay and allotment system and the war
risk insurance payments were got has
worked against the establishment of uni
versal training at this time. 1t was ad-
United to-day by members OF the Senate
Military Committee. This prejudice and
general disgust with the whole army sys-
tenn must be overcome, they said.
Another function the commission will
have imposed upon IT will be that of in
vestigating in general way the policies
which have been put into effect since the
signing of the armstice and some which
have existed for a long time prior to
that. The court-martial system, the In
justices and harshness Of which were
brought to light by the testimony of
Brighten. Samuel T. Ansell before the
Senate Military Committee, is one OF the
things it is Intended to have this COM
mission look into fully.
Another situation which II Is felt ur-
gently needs looking into from the out
side is the aircraft and aeronautical pol
icy OF the army since the end of actual
fighting. Senator'S confess themselves to
be totally in the dark as to what this
policy eventually Is to be and when
the investigation Is being made strong
pressure will be again exerted in favor
of creation of a separate department OF
the air combining the air services of the
army, navy. the Marine Corps and the
Post Office Department, and with a def
mite policy OF development.
Menoher Against scrappinE Plan.
Major-Gen. Menoher. new Director of
lLc AR CcIt lCc. II pain to-day
that he was not in sympathy with the
plan to scrap the valuable equipment and
wreck the personnel of the flying depart
ment of the army. and In fact would
night against it He is going to devote
his energies to advocacy OF tina upbuild-
ing and maintenance of a strong service,
particularly ip its civil and commercial
aspects.
The principal other development in
he al tnt, d.
much beclouded through lack Of Official
knowledge of precisely what the War
Department policy IL to be was a letter
written by Senator Chamberlain core. },
chairman, to Brig Gen. William Kenly,
recently removed from the air service
by the Secretary of War and transferred
to the artillery branch. with the rank
OF Colonel. Gen. Kenly was unit a few
weeks ago Director of Military Aeronau-
ucs.
Chamberlain Praises Kenly.
In the following letter Senator Cham
berlain told him what he thought OF his
record there:
my DEAR GENERAL I am advised that
YOU are to be transferred from the po-
sltion OF chief of the bureau of mill
tary aeronautics TO the artillery branch
OF the service with which you served
81 lOHB. WHdt IcdSol tiiib 10 ~ pc
done at this particular time I do not
know for you have rendered splendid
service to your country in the position
4 which you are now leaving. .,-
Under your efficient and fearless ad-
ministration bureau which existed only
on paper with little to commend 1t ex-
cept the ability Of many formerly con-
nected with It to talk long and loudly
about things which ought to have been
done and were in fact not done has de-
reloped to a bureau of actual accom-
plishment.
This has been done in spie of the i'm
pediments which surrounded you and I
cannot resist the temptation to send
YOU this message of thanks for what
YOU have done. Further than this with
Characteristic courage you have not
hesitated at any time to tell the truth
with reference to your department to
those entitled to know the truth and
upon whom dcvolved the duty of as
sisting TO cure inefficiency.
81 wish you every success in your new
field OF labor"