The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-17
BAKER AND MARCH
FAIL IN ARMY PLEA
Volunteer Plan, Put Up Sud-
denly, Does Not Impress
Washington Lawmakers.
WILSON TO KEEP REINS
CONSUMPTION Not a Feature in
Standing Force Of
5O9,8O9. !
Special Desputch TO THE srS.

|
Ing several hours to-day to Secretary
| OF War Baker and Gen. March. Chief OF
STAFF, explain the provisions Of an un-
expected proposal from the War De-
partment for a permanent military es-
adjustment members OF the House Mil
itary Committee threw UP their hands
and agreed Informally with the Secre-
tary to recommend the continuation of
the Presidents present military author
ity for one year so far as army organi-
cation is concerned.
This decision was made after IL be-
came apparent that the War Depart
ments legislative proposal involved so
many controversial points that II would
be utterly impossible to thresh them
out before the end OF the present Con-
gress
The War Departments bill, of which
the committee members with the excep-
ton of Chairman Dent tAls.) knew
! nothing, provides for a return to the
volunteer system. by three year enlist
| ments with An authorized strength OF
609,s09 officers and men. permanently
vesting in the General Stan Corps the
| powers and functions which Secretary
Baker under authority of the Overman
| dCt mas taken from the 6tdIr bureaus
and placed there. Virtually all organi-
zation changes made as a result of the
war would be legalized and made per-
manent.
| Omits Universal Trainins.
| The measure does not touch on the
subject of universal training. and al
though Gen. March said that experience
had demonstrated the necessity OF using
the draft TO raise war armies the bill
| does not specifically provide for the use
Of this instrument in time OF war.
| That question brings in the Admins
! trstion," Gen. March declared.
In reply to the direct question whether
| he favored the principle of universe |
military training he replied:
| That is a question OF national policy.
AS far as the Administration is con-
| cerned IL IS determined by the RESPONSE
BILE civil officers. Army officers can rec
| ommend and have done so. The recon-
| mendat!ons are on the Secretary's desk"
What I want to do is to get them off
his desk" commented Representative
Sanford On. ". Both Secretary Baker
and Gen. March laughed. but volun-
| teered no comment.
When he appea ned before the commit
tee in the morning Mr.. Baker was asked
his attitude on universal military train
ing. Ho informed the committee that
pending final action at the peace con-
ference the Department would not an
nounce a decision on the subject.
Baker Declines to Answer.
| Urged by Representative Sanford to
advise the committee as to how the War
Departments proposal for a permanent
| establishment could be worked in with a
| military training system II the latter
| should be decided upon. the Secretary
declined to OFFER any light.
An attempt may he made to force in
formation along these lines by House
resolution, but the attitude of the Sec
rotary indicated clearly that should such
Information be required it would be de-
clined on grounds OF public policy in
view of the existing emergency
| Gen. March at the afternoon session
had completed IN explanation OF the pro-
posed legislation, section by section, with
little interruption when Chairman Dent.
| after suggesting the impossibility OF
passing legislation of such great impor-
lance In the remaining six weeks OF the
| session, asked
| Don't you think il would be better to
| carry out the ideas involved in the bill
and which are to very large extent in
| operation now by simply authorizing a
continuation OF the present policy pend
| ing opportunity to give these proposals
the time and thought they demand"
| Gen. March did not reply directly, but
volunteered TO draft a rider which would
| accomplish the purpose.