Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-17
MOVE TO RETAIN
PRESENT ARMY
ORGANIZATION

Washington. Jan. 16.-The House
rL.!ltalv Committee practically rcac!'-
al an agreement ,odav III conference
with SECRETARY Baker and Genera.
.Ia-ch. chle1 OF staff. 20 postpone the
Var Department reorganization bill
ANAL ne next session of Congress and
Win It i .a.-e par Of the 3rospec-
I've debate over the future m.l.ta!%
policy OF the country.
!. suggestion by Chairman Dent
-Aat Legislative rider on The army
%11Drnprlat!on Dlil. continuing me
...tst.ng var organization Of The de-
Garment ana -!le regular army or
.,na,he-.. year. =. substituted for The
contamination measure NET Win the
u7Dr0va! 0i Mr Baker ana apparently
with nat If | majority OF me COM
,nlt1e" members. The proposal crew
uut Of I conference AZ W1Icn @"cre-
AIRY Baker and nc c,Iet 81 stan eX-
pIa!nrl . ahe tominltte- the reor
canIZal!on measure framed y" n"
department. providing ior regular
arm If 500. 900 men TO be raised ny
voluntary enlistment On 2. IA three
ear basis The b1ll also would nave
mace permanent the aDsout" con-
,..oi over all branches of the army
now exercises by the Cnlet OF stan as
4 wartime necessity General March
,a.G me army vas now organized IN
dor Presidential order and the plan
includad r the staff D,ll vas Dractl
ca!lv mat Jr-an.Zat.on. TOta! strength
ol 5u0 9D1 men IS provided Tor, ne
"a. il. % 30 organized nto 20 DIVISIONS
grouped n Ave corps. The total an
7ua! cost he fixed n s1.1S5. 900, 900 IS
,Iy1lateG on 4 return % a base Of pay
81 81 u month for prlvaIes and az
elusive of $50. 600. 600 carried n the
civilizations bill All OF lie existing
wartime organ cations. such Is IN"
-ank rorog. TRANSFORMATION and motor
TRANSFORMATION corps. independent air
service and the like are TO De con-
,iuu.G with the EXCEPTION 81 the
che,nlca. warfare service. W. are not
III favor II The Use OF poison -as IN
war" General Marcn declared. Not
that il makes any difference now YOU
Kill a soldier, Dut the gas i;es on The.
ground ana penet-ltes back 20 VII
ages ana Kills women and children.
No civilized nation ought 20 use H.
He added that the peace congress vas
expected 70 prohibit its Use absolute
~. one OF the most important pro-
visions OF the Dill. Gen. Marcn SAID.
vas that giving reserve corps officers
rank including that OF colonel instead
III m iOr : now 7rONfIt.J
There ougn; not 20 De such hamper
ing n rank Of men coming from civil
life. he SAID. Another condition which
must DC -e,redied The ,eneraI said. vas
mat limiting permanent COMMISSIONS
from -.yii life 10 the grade Of second
lieGtena Il. # that - % DE- continued
IL said. ne men VINO touEat the var
would be ,ost. tor those who mad proved
themselves IN acton would not consent
70 enter he regular service n thai
Grade The bill provides FOR absolute
promotion BY selection II all officers
OF ram: II raplaIn Or higher By the
;.me IN officer becomes d captain. Gen.
March SAID. MS ability IS = known QUAR-
t!,- The ;hree-year enlistment was
proposed % reduce the annual "turl
General Marcn SAID Il meant a recruit
nenr If I6J i. men a year. winch re
1eiieved could Ne accomplished.
Don't YOU think It would De wise 20
include Is \ permanent provision NJ
aw. asked Rep. Mckenzie. the state
rnent that N time Of var We would
-a.st. our armies by CONSUMPTION
That's where the administration
steps n. said Cen March. You re-
call that Mr. LLOYD George has said ne
was not N favor Of corscrption any
where al any time n future. We 10
not know what the peace conference Is
going TO bring Us
Gen March said the National Guar,i
was al present out Of existence. and
added that until the men VINO really
compose the CHI guard ana are now IT.
France nave come home, not even The