Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-08-08
BAKER PROPOSES
HUGE FIELD ARMY
SECRETARY OF WAR FAVORS
MODIFIED UNIVERSAL MILL
TARY TRAINING.

Maintenance of one / army with
war strength of 100000 men is
proposed in a bill establishing a per-
manent military policy which was
sent to congress this week by Secre-
tary of War Baker.
The active force of this army would
be $4,000 regulars while the re-
mainder would be young men who
had taken a three months military
training course, which would be COM
pulsory for all 19-year-old youths
This reserve strength would be used
to fill out the 20 infantry divisions
ana one cavalry division into which
! 1t is proposed to divide the regular
army.
The plans were embodied in bill
which represents the policy of the
peace time military establishment.
Under the measure all special serv-
ices built up during the war would
be maintained as separate branches
except the chemical warfare service.
which would be merged with the en-
gineer corps.
uE NaiAo iot ..
regular army of p divisions and nec-
essary auxiliary services, with a
peace strength of $4,000 enlisted
men. and a war strength would be
provided through a modified form OF
the selective service act under which
the national army was raised for the
war with Germany. For training
purposes only youths in their 18th
years would be called to the colors
for a three months period to be at
tached to regular divisions for that
time. 1t is estimated that this would
provide an annual class of 100000
men to be given intensive military in
struction, stripped of all vocational
or other educational features.
For two years after training the
youths would be required to submit
certain reports, giving their address
es, changes in status as to depend
ents. physical condition, etc. They
would receive 81 for each for each
report submitted.
In the event of war all men in this
status would be called to the colOrs
to All up the regular divisions and
compose the first replacement units,
the selective service act In effect dur
ing the great war again becoming op.
erative.
The bill provides for reorganiza-
ton of the regular army in substan-
TALLY the same terms as previously
recommended by Secretary Baker
when the current army appropriation
bill was under consideration. No
mention of the national guard is
made in the bill. but in his letter ia
the committee chairman Secretary
Baker said he assumed that the ma
tivnal defense act would be contin'
ued in force. making the guard sub
ject to liberalization for war.
Secretary Baker said in letter &C.
companying the bill that it could be
used as the basis for hearings which
the senate military committee is to
have before drafting legislation es-
tablishing a permanent military pol.
icy.
'The bill as drawn" said Secre
tary Baker. provides for a system
of universal training for a very brief
period applicable to all male citizens
with suitable provision for exemp
tions and deferments.
ut does not. however, provide for
any reserve obligation. since it is un-
necessary with a system of universal
service in time Of emergency"
If the plan is adopted by congress
Camp Lewis is destined to become the
great military university of the North
west and Pacific coast. army officers
| Continued on Page Five.