The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-19
BAKER FIRM FOR
ARMYPROGRAMlNE
"Guesses" That Army of
$4,000 Is Somewhat
Large, But Refuses to
Take Responsibility of
Asking for Smaller Force


Washington, August 49,
Secretary Baker defended to-
day before the Senate subcom-
mittee on military affairs his
recommendation for an army
of $4,000 men by saying that
in view Of the disturbed con-
ditions in the world" he did not
wish the responsibility" of
asking for a small force.
Secretary Baker indicated several times
that the bill as presented, including it's
provision for compulsory universal mill
tary training for 19-year-old youths, was
that of military experts rather than his
own, although it had his approval He
said that his own guess" was that an
army of $4,000 was perhaps somewhat
larger than necessary, but that he did
not wish to take the responsibility of op
posing the opinion of the country's
greatest military men.
Regarding the provision for nainten-
ance of three divisions in the insular pos
sessions the secretary admitted that the
force appeared to him somewhat large,
and agreed to the suggestion of Senator
Wadsworth of New York that native
troops might be used to advantage. The
senator had remarked that at present
it seemed that every American soldier
kept in the Philippines was there some
what in the nature of hostage of
faith
The secretary also considered as worth
while a suggestion that a part of the
youth of the country might be given the
opportunity for naval training, possibly
as substitute for the training he other
wise would receive in the army.
OBJECTS TO AIR MINISTRY
The Interrogation of the secretary Of
fered the opportunry for securing his
opinion on the proposed establishment of
an air ministry. Senator New of Indiana
presented arguments for the separation
of the military and aeronauticS, but Sec
rotary Baker was frank in his declara-
ton of opinion that it would make for
jnefficency. Difficulty would be exper-
fenced, Mr.. Baker said, in maintaining
the proper coordination under separate
heads, and if a more adequate air SER
vice is desired he suggested II would pc
more practicable to utilize the existing
military organizations.
Another reason given by the secretary
for opposing a Capitalization was that it
will tend to discourage competition in the
development Of aerial appliances. Avia-
ton, Re said, is yet SO new that All the
ingenuity ana Inventions that can De had
are needed He also explained to the
committee the difficulty an air ministry
would have in handling the pilots when
separately trained, indicating the neces-
sity from the point of view of the mill
tary man of having the air men SO drilled
with the army men that there would be
tho least possible chance of failure when
il came to coordination. The testimony
developed that the United States now has
1918 airplanes, of which, however, only
1898 are service planes. The major part
of the present equipment now is obsolete,
but, it was asserted by the secretary, the
types are better than any in Eunope.
utilization of those types, coupled with
the experience in production that has
been had would, he believed, serve to
save much time If 1t should again be-
come necessary to bring that branch
Of the service to war basis.
The secretary said that if the govern
ment wished to develop the air industry
either for commerce or for war purposes
the solution was simple-merely spend
the money to buy more planes.