The Washington times., 1919-04-07
PLANS WEST POINT
AS Merit REWARD

Plans of the General STAFF and the
War Department for the army are
in danger of being. sent on the rocks
when they are taken up by Congress.
Strenuous opposition to an army Of
500, 900 men, or anything like IL. as a
permanent proposition. is developing
iu House and Senate and is alarming
army men.
Is While no formal canvasses have
been made, Senators and House mem
bers, who are opposed to a large
force, have been feeling out the SEN
timent and as a result they have be-
come convinced that the army will
be held down to 250,O00 men. In fact
efforts will be made to reduce it to
a still lower figure. such as 175,OOO
or 100000
The truth is the whole future pro
gram as 10 the army was never mOrs
completely up in the air than it is
today. The country faces the pOssi-
bility that most of the vast aggregate
OF training in the art Of war ac-
quired in the recent war will be dis
sipated.
West Point on Merit.
Great interest is felt here in the
visit Of Congressman Kahn of Cali
fOrnia- the new chairman Of the
House Military Committee, to Europe.
He is expected back soon with a plan
for the future of the military which
he will present in form Of a bill
and advocate.
Mr.. Kahn is expected TO advocate
reduction Of the standing army to the
perhaps 100000 or there
abouts, with universal training and
new plans for West Point, which W1ll
make its corps consist of young men
who have shown in training camps
or army that they are it.
Many have not understood that the
recently announced army plan to give
permanent camps cannot be
carried out unless the permanent leg
Islation of Congress fits into it, but
such is the fact
A real clash is coming in the extra
session over the military policy. The
present arrangement as to the army
is temporary. and it will be necessary
for the new Congress to take the
subject up and deal with it.
Inasmuch as the military apprO-
priation bill has not been passed and
must be considered almost immedi-
ately when the extra session meets,
this will serve to precipitate discus
sion of the army's future.
Oppose Universal Training.
To a large extent, the same ele- I
ments that are going to war on
large standing army are going to Op-
pose universal training. The line
up on the two questions, however
will not be entirely the same. Uni
versal training will incur great oppO-
sition, and it is known that Senator
and other warm advO-
Gates of it are far from sanguine
about establishing 1t.
II the army is slashed and trimmed,
as the small army men in Congress
intend to do IL they can, the War
Department program, with reference
10 locating certain divisions at GER
lain camps permanently-maki n
given camp the permanent base, OF
neadduarters, of a given division
will become a scrap of paper. That
plan has been made up on the sup
position there would be a permanent
,rmy of 100000 or 100000 men.
Would Have 10 Sell Sites.
II Congress now refuses to permit |
an army of such size, the whole |
scheme as to permanent divisional |
camps either will 20 by the board
or will have to be greatly |
revised
Moreover, the War Departments |
purchases OF a large number of camp |
sites would be affected and IL would |
be made certain that as soon as |
is over many of the /
camp and. cantonment sites would /
have to be sold.