New-York tribune., 1919-05-20
To BE Proposed
Will Make State Troops
Backbone of the Ma
tion's Military System
Training To Be Universal
Overseas Staff, However, Has
Programme That VIII
Cost a Billion Yearly
NeaU Yorlc Tribune
Washington Bureau

NeaU York Tribune
Washington Bureau
= WASHINGTON, May 19.-The ma
tonal defence programme for the
United States favored by majority
Of the House Military Affairs Commit
tee after weeks of study overseas, in
cludes the following, according to Rep
resentative Anthony, of Kansas. rank
ing Republican member and paciist
before America got into the world war:
\ A small regular army with
greatly increased number Of
officers so it can be quickly expanded
in case of an emergency.
. A strong National Guard
2 Some sort of universal military
training modelled after the
Swiss citizen-soldiery system, but not
so extensive
Bills to carry out the majority view
of the committee will be introduced
soon, Mr.. Anthony said to-day. With
other members he returned from
France in time to be here for the or
ganizaton of the House.
Staff Against Programme
This programme will not meet with
the support of the overseas general
-AoT n4l, lor OF
the committee got the impression from
their visit to American headquarters
that The A. f. F. officers favor a uni
vcrsal training system. The officers,
lie explained, are working on two plans
for submission TO Congress. One would
entail an outlay of $750,000OoO a year
<.nd the other about 81 900 100000
According to the Kansan, most of the
members of the committee held up
their hands in horror when they heard
this. They don't think the people of
.hc United States want to spend 81 900 .
100000 a year to train their young men
in the art of warfare, especially when
il is just about to join q league of ma =
tions to prevent future wars. This
does not mean that they don't want an
adequate defence system, however.
Try as they would the members of
the committee were unable to get any
line on what the overseas military pro-
gramme is. They simply were refused
figures. They were told that we are
going to keep soldiers in Europe prob
ably for years to come; but whether it
is to be one, two, four or dozen divis7
ions they couldn't find out
Would Bring Army Home
The impression of the committee
Mr.. Anthony said, is that American
soldiers should be brought back to this
country at the earliest possible date
The recommendations of the commit
tee had lot to do with the action
taken Saturday night by the Republi-
can caucus urging the return of sol
diers as quickly as possible.
According to Mr.. Anthony the private
soldiers overseas are in favor of the
military programme which the commit
tee will recommend The National
Guard is held in high esteem every
where. It's work during the war was
studied carefully by the committee
After the investigation the committee
is ready to urge that the National
Guard be the bulwark of the American
defence system.
Mr.. Anthony and other members OF
the committee said that the American
soldiers, with the exception of those
in the army of occupation, think OF
little else than getting home The com
mittee travelled about France in {
special train. 1t visited all the Ameri
can camps and stations of the supply
service.