El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-01
NEW ARMY BILL
IS A SURPRISE
General Staff Acts Tardily
in Matter Of Fixing Size
of the Army.

Washington. D. C., Sept Sub
mission to congress Of the war depart
ment's army reorganization bin came
as something Of q surprise because OF
the limitations that previously had
been received that departmental &C
ton would be deferred until the re-
turn Of Gen Persh1ng 10 this country.
Ever since this special session OF
congress convened, and also during
the last session. efforts were made by
the congressional military committee
TO get the war department to 1ivulge
the plans IL had been understood had
been prepared by the general staff
for a universal military training sys-
TEN. but every such request from the
capitol was met with refusal
Members Of congress who are inter-
ested in military matters do not IN
derstand why the reorganization bill
could not have been sent 20 congress
at the opening OF this session, that its
consideration could be commenced as
soon as the army appropriation bill
was out Of the way and with the
views Of Gen Pershing on the sub
ject presented after his return
Surprise in Figures.
When the war department last win
ter asked congress TO authorize a tenn
porary regular army OF about 100000
men for the fiscal year, the opposition
to such a force was 50 pronounced
given TO it. and the views OF the mem
hers did not change with the opening
OF the special session. as shown by
the fact that only a regular force OF
2a5-000 men was authorized for this
year.
For this reason It Is surprising that
the war department in the most re-
cent bill is seeking a regular force OF
$4,000 men There is no expectation
at the capitol. even among those that
are classed as militarists. that con-
gress will authorize any such perma-
nent force. Whether or not the uni
versal training scheme viii be adopt
ed is another matter
To EEfiuEuish Bureau System.
Another feature Of the reorganiza-
ton bill is the perpetuation OF the
wartime control Of the general staff
over all functions Of the military es-
adjustment II is designed TO per-
feet the relationship estab lished dur
ing the war between the general STAFF
and the bureaus Of the war depart
ment- In effect. IL IS aimed at the
extinction Of the old bureau system
In ak1nE their recomme udarlonE
on the subject. the secretary Of war
and chief Of staff uphold the theory
that the control Of the army should
center in the chief OF staff and the
general staff and that il should not be
dispersed and divided among a num-
Der Of more or less Independent bu-
reaus Under the proposed systems,
Al bureaus OF the war department
viii become and remain subordinate
10 the general staff
Restrictions Removed.
The number OF general staff Off
GERS found necessary to do the work
is left entirely with the president and
restrictions Of present laws on the
number OF general staff officers that
may be kept on duty IN Washington
are removed
During the war the operation and
control Of the general staff along the
lines substantially those Il IS proposed
TO continue in time Of peace have been
the occasion Of much I'll feeling and
criticism on the part OF those belong
ing TO other than staff corps OF the
army. Many instances were cited IL
Illustrative Of the way business was
DELAYED and other alleged abuses oc-
Cured
Those who believe that absolute
control Of all military functions
should be centered On the general
staff as Il is in the French army and
was in the German organization. ad-
nit that IN many cases criticisms were
we'll taken. but it is pointed out that
the shortcomings were more the re-
suit OF deficient and inexperienced
personnel than Of the system itself