New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Baker-March Army
Bill Unsound. Saws
Major McIlvaine
Military Training Camps Of
cial Writes War Secretary
Swiss Training System Is
Best and Cheapest Plan

In letter to the Secretary Of War
Majd- Tomkns McIlvaine, acting chair
man of the executive committee of the
Military Training Camps Association.
characterizes as thoroughly unsound
the Baker-March army bill, providing
for standing army of $4,000 and
three months training for youths on
attainment of their nineteenth wear.
"1n my opinion" says Major Nc
Ilvaine, "this bill would perpetuatc our
worst mistakes"
Commenting on the training feature
Of the measure, Major McIlvaine says
in the letter, made public yesterday by
three months would afford only half
training. He also critcises the alb
sence Of provision for the organization
of citizen army or for progressive
training for the qualification of re-
serve officers.
Favors a Citizen Army
There is great diference,' he
proce ,ds, between half training and
then turning loose a number of young
men as private soldiers and creating
an organization-a citizen army-that
can be modified in an emergency and
take the field and function efficiently.
The Administration bill altogether
loses sight of the fact that it takes
longer to train the officers, non-com-
mlssloned officers and enlisted spe-
clalists than it does the privates With
out training these leaders in advance
it is. from the citizen army standpoint,
largely a waste Of time and money to
train the private soldiers.
"On the outbreak OF war we shall
nave no organized Federal force cx-
cept the regular army.
10 sum up: We do not want, and
we do not need in time of peace, any
such professional force as a standing
army If over half million men. while
IN tim, OF wer even so large a profess
sional army would be wholly made
quate for national Defence
Against Professional Force
"A large standing army is not only
the most expensive system, but it is
uHeconomlc. undemocratc and un-
-Amerlca3. 1t ia opposed TO the idea
OF a reduction of armanents. and so
IS the antithesis OF any league Of ma.
tons. And, finally, it is impracticable
because Of the impossibility Of obtain
ing recruits in sufficient numbers.
The universal training features of
the Administration bill are not only
next oor to worthless from military
standpoint, but are equally value]ess
on the educational and vocation a !
side.
Three months is too short a period
IN which to give genuine educational.
vocational and military training.
"On the other hand, the national
service act. or Chamberlain-Kahn
bill. also now before Congress. pro.
vldes citizen army system-ofFicer re-
and men-based on the American and
democratic principle Of equality of
obi CATION and opportunity for ali.
Advocates Swiss System
This system has been tried out in
dcemocratlc countries, notably Switzer.
land and Australia, and has proven
success. 1t is suited to our own in
st1tutlons and traditions
Under this plan the size OF the pro
tesslonal force is the minimum neces-
sary. IN peace for what may be called
administrative Purposes that. is. for
overseas garrlsons, skeleton force for
coast defence, small mobile force for
MINOR emergencies and for training
and other attachments. The cost viii
be less by hundreds of millions of dol.
lars"