The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-17
OVER 100000 IN
PROPOSED ARMY
INPEACE TIMES
House Military Committed in
Conference Agrees With
Baker-War Establishment
to Cost Over Billion Yearly.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE house
military committee, practically reached
an agreement Yesterday in conference
with Secretary Baker and Gen. March,
chief Of staff, to postpone the var de-
partment reorganization bill until the
next session Of congress and with II u
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 appro-
priatton bill continuing the existing war
organization of the department and the
regular army for another year be sub
stituted for the reorganization meas
ure met with the approval of Mr.. Ba-
ker and apparently with that of a ma
Jority of the committee members.
Regular Army 100000.
The proposal grew out of a confer
ence at which Secretary Baker and the
chief Of staff explained to the COM
mittee the reorganization measure
framed by the department, providing
for a regular army Of 500, 900 men to
be raised by voluntary enlistment on a
1flat three-year basis. The bill also
would have made permanent the abso-
lutte control over all branches OF the
army now exercised by the chief Of
staff as a wartime necessity.
Chairman Dent said it would be i'm
possible TO get such a bill through con
gress in the six weeks remaining OF the
session. Committee members agreed
with him, pointing but that the war
department bill on its face appeared TO
be q military policy measure which
abandoned the theory of universal mill
tary obligation. Mr.. Baker insisted that
this was not the case; that no attempt
to fix the nations policy as to a peace
time army was involved, but agreed
that the substitution of continuing au-
tHnTitt lnnaarnl to no tho yViCAGt PpIraC.
In view of uncertainties of the situation
abroad and lack of time for full discus
sion in congress.
The exact form of the rider is to be
studied out by the general staff. 1t
probably will leave the strength of the
force to presidential order within linn
It's and subject to appropriation ltmita-
tons. The committee will take up at
once hearings on the regular appropri-
alton bill, which provides, as drawn, for
500, 600 men.
Secretary Baker would make no dec
l~aration in regard to universal military
service suggestions, saying that he
would submit no proposal of that nature
until the peace conference a finished
its work and the obligations of the ma
ton could be gagged, He said the gem
eral staff had submitted several studies
which still were on his desk. Later
Representative Sanford sought to OBJ
tain Gen. MarCh's views on this ques-
ton.
1.-THE question Of universal military
training is a question of national poll
cy," said Gen. March. at is the duty
Of the general staff to submit recon-
mendations to the secretary Of war
when they are called for. If they do
not get by the secretary they are
stopped, The secretary has told you
that they are on his desk
Cost Over Billion.
Gen. March said the army was now
organized under presidential order and
the plan included In the staff bill was
practically that organization. A total
strength of 500, 900 men is provided for.
he said, to be organized into 20 divisions
grouped into five corps. The total cost
he fixed at $1'4S5, 900, 900. estimated on
a return to a base pay. Of $l5 a month
for privates exclusive of $50, 900, 900 car
ried for the Notifications bill.
All Of the existing wartime organiza-
lions, such as the tank corps. trans
dependent air service and the like are
to be continued, with the exception of
the chemical warfare service.
we are not in favor Of the use of
! clared. mot that it makes any differ
ence how you kill a soldier, but the gas
lies on the ground and pepetrates back
to villages and kills women and chill
dren. No civilized nation ought to use
it."
The general said that even before the
armistiCe was signed, the International
Red Cross was working for an agree
ment among the belligerents for the
abandonment Of gas warfare. He added
that the peace congress was expected
to prohibit the use absolutely. In the
meantime the army will continue to
study to provide masks for defense
troops against gas. but make no. plans
to employ it, the general said.
War Agencies Continue.
"If the president is given authority
to continue wartime agencies of the
ped out in the Bill will be followed. 1t
| provides for six officers Of the rank of
lieutenant-general, to take care of corps
commanders. and fixes the chief of
staff with the rank of general as the
officer taking rank and precedence
| over all other officers"
One of the most important provisions
Of the bill, Gen. March said, was that
| giving reserve corps officers rank, in
tor, as now provided. "There ought
not to be such hampering in rank Of
men coming from civil life" he said,
Another condition whuch must be
remedied, the general said, was that
limiting permanent commissions from
civil life to Abe grade Of second lieu
tenant. If that is to be continued, he
said, 1.-The men who fought the war
would be lost for those who had proved
themselves in action would not consent
to enter the regular service in thar
grade.
The bill provides for absolute promo.
tiOn by selection of all officers of rank