The sun., 1919-09-05
PLAN FOR Big ARMY
FAVORED BY. WILSON
Gen. March Says Programme
Is Needed Because of I'm
settled Conditions.
LEAGUE rs NO BARRIER
Force of $4,000 and Military
Training Will Cost $685.
100000 q Year.
spectnl Despatch TO TEE Sun.

WASHINGTON. Sept A-President Will
son has approved of the 'big army"
programme the War Department has
submitssd to Congress for the peace time
reorsnnization of the army, Gen. Pey-
ton Q. March. Chief Of STAFF. told the
Houve Military Affairs Committee to-
daH This programme includes stand
ing army of $4,000 men and universal
military training, at an estimated cost
of $663,000, 900 annually at the mini
mum.
Gen. March's statements were made
while the committee was questioning
him as to why such a large army Is
needed II the United States becomes
party to the League of Nations Rep
resentative Kahn (Cal), chairman OF
the committee, asked Gen. March IL the
President has approved the War Depart
ment plans.
IT am not at liberty to quote the Pres
ident." the Chief OF Stan said, but 1t Is
q fair assumption that since Secretary
of War Baker has Endorsed the pro-
gramme 1t meets with the approval
of the President.
1.-THE military authorities and the War
Department have favored universal mill
tary training for several years, but 1t Is
the first time that an Administration has
come forward in approval OF the plan"
Reason for Large Force.
The Chief of staff then indicated that
military authorities believed the big
army programme was necessary because
of the unsettled conditions throughout
the world.
with the prevailing spirit OF unrest
throughout the world all nations must
be on the alert" said Gen. March.
winston Churchill has proposed an
army for Great Britain of 900. 900 men.
France has the CONSUMPTION system and
can raise an army at once of any size.
We suggest the army of 100000 men,
with universal military training. Be
cause Of the supplies we now have on
hand the cost for several years would
be $663.o00.0 900, but in no case after
that would the yearly expenditure ex-
coed $900,000.000. That is less than the
interest on the $4,000. 900, 900 we have
just spent to defeat Germany"
Had this plan been adopted years ago
and this amount expanded in prepared
ness would there have been a world war
and would the United States have en-
gagged In it?' Chairman Kahn asked.
There is a grave question whether
there would have been a world war"
Gen. March replied. Certainly Ger
many would have hesitated long before
bringing the United States into it"
Gen. March insisted the War Depart
ment did not intend to burden the
country with huge war machine. The
size of the army Is much larger than
would have otherwise been considered
because of universal military training.
Distribution of Forces.
I'VE estimate 1t will require 1853, 900
men to keep the universal military train
ing system and get efficient results" he
said. The remaining 10000 are the
minimum necessary to keep up the
Regular Army establishment"
Gen. March claimed a much better
nation physically as we'll as a stronger
military establishment will be developed
through universal training. Educational
features will be conducted in connection
with the plan. he said.
I'VE were fortunate in having q wall
OF allies behind which we could train
our men," said Gen. March. I'VE do
not want similar experience when we
may not have a protecting wall. We
want 10 be ready for the emergency.
I'VE have large number of mel
trained under actual battle conditions,
anu lhc| aro hhNdiudpie III training the
younger men. We propose to train in
divisions. just as was done during the
war, so that the young men may be
given as nearly as possible the war
training"
Gen. March explained the War De-
partmept's plans were always to have
one fleld army Immediately available
With the men In training and the
Regulars. he said that 100000 troops
outside Of the reserves can always be
ready for any ernerRencv