Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-17
Arm Y OF
100000
WILL BE
RETAINED
House Military Committee
Decides to Continue Ex-
iSting War Organization
for Another Year.

Washington, Jan. 16.-The house
military committee practically
reached an agreement today in con-
ference with Secretary Baker and
General March, chief of staff, to
postpone the War department re-
organization bill until the next ses-
sion of congress and with it a large
part of the prospective debate over
the future military policy of the
country.
A suggestion by Chairman Dent
that a legislative rider on the army
appropriation bill continuing the ex-
listing war organization of the de-
partment and the regular army for
another year be substituted for the
reorganization measure met with the
approval Of Mr.. Baker and apparent
ly with that of a majority of the
committee members.
The proposal grew out of a con-
ference at which Secretary Baker
and the chief of staff explained TO
the committee the reorganization.
measure framed by the department,
for a regular army Of 500,-
900 men 10 be raised by voluntary
enlistment on a fiat three-year
basis. The bilt also would have
made permanent the absolute CON
troll over all branches of the army
now exercised by the chief of staff
as war time necessity.
Time Too Short to Legislate.
Chairman Dent said it would be
impossible to get such bill through
congress in the six weeks remaining
of the session. Committee members
agreed with him, pointing out that
the War department bill on its face
appeared to be a military policy
measure which abandoned the
theory Of universal military obliga-
ton. Mr.. Baker insisted that this
was not the case; that no attempt
to fix the nations policy as to
peace time. army was involved, but
agreed that the substitution Of con-
tinuing authority appeared to be the
wisest course in view of uncertain
ties of the situation abroad and lack
of time for full discussion in con-
gress.
The exact form of a rider is to be
studied out by the general staff. Il
probably will leave the strength of
the force to presidential order with
in limits and subject to appropria-
tion limitations The committee will
take up at once hearings on the
regular appropriation bill which
as drawn for 100000 men.
Reticent as to Universal Service.
Secretary Baker would make no
in regard to universal
service suggestions, saying
that he would suggest no proposal
of that nature until the peace con-
ference had finished its work and
the obligations of the nation could
be gauged. He said the general
staff had submitted several studies
which were still on his desk. Later
Representative Sanford sought TO
obtain General March's views on
this question.
1.-The question of universal train
ing is question of national policy,
said General March. ut is the duty
of the general staff to submit rec
concentrations to the secretary OF
war when they are called for. II
they do not get by the secretary,
they are stopped. The secretary has
told you that they are on his desk.
General March said the army was
now organized under presidential
order and the plan included in the
staff bill was practically that or
ganization. A total strength of
1000 men is provided for, he said,
10 be organized into 20 divisions,
grouped in FIVE groups. The total
annual cost he fixed at $l,185, 600 600
estimated on a return to base
ray Of SIS a month for privates and
exclusive Of $86,000,000 carried in
the fertilization bill.
To Keep Up Ali Organizations.
All Of the existing war time or
ganizations such as the tank corps,
transportation and motor transpor-
tation corps, independent air service
and the like are to be continued with
the exception Of the chemical war
fare service.
'We are not in favor of the use
of poison gas in war" General
March declared. mot that it makes
any difference how you kill sol
der, but the gas iiesNon the ground
and penetrates back to villages and
kills women and children. ~No civil
lized nation ought to use it.
The general said that even before
the arm:stice was signed. the Inter-
national Red Cross was working
for an agreement among the bell
.irnrnnts for Abandonment nf ras