The Washington herald., 1919-04-27
BIG ARMY PLANS
!! HELD, AWAITING
WILSON'S 0KEH
General Staff Provides for
/ Universal Military Train
/, ing for All.
WAR CHANGED POLICY
National Guard, Under State
, Control, to Maintain
/, Local Order.
WAR CHANGED POLICY

! Congress win be asked to put the
nations security In the keeping
! of a strong national force and rele-
gate 10 the national guard. under
, state control the job of maintain
/. ing local order. according to we'll
informed officers at the War De-
partment
{ Plans drafted for the General
\ star provide for universal military
training as the heart of the future
army. Secretary OF War Baker has
! not approved any Of these pending
, action of the Peace Conference on
: conscription and disarmament
In any plan. It Is said, the national
guard viii be treated as a local force
and not as the backbone of the ma
, TONS army. This would be a depart
= ure from past policy and would result
4, from the lessons Of the war, which de-
mand. it is said. that the entire man
pcver of a nation be trained
Public to Determine.
4 In the main, administration inter
! probation of political and public SEN
. timent will determine what sort OF
peace-time preparedness is presented
to the next Congress.
Admy experts expect a quick deci-
/, sion after the return of the Presi-
, dent and Secretary of War Baker
from abroad.
With thousands OF officers enrolled
IN the reserve corps. army men yes
terday admitted their anxiety to form
also a real reserve for the necessary
renlisted men.
. For years the army has been for
universal service. But many we'll
Informed officers do not believe that
any administration would foster such
, a plan. and many more believe Con-
Eress would never pass such legisla-
, tion upon the ground that it is mill
taristic H
About . per cent of officers dis.
charged since the armistice was
signed-36 per cent of those released
up TO February 1-have asked for re-
serve commissions. Hundreds Of pros
pective officers are being trained at
reserve officers training units in
schools throughout the country.
Only Reserves. Regulars.
At present the only enlisted reserve
counted on by the army is that of reg
d ulars whose enlistments have expired
National army men and men in the
3 regular army who enlisted for the
war are discharged without reserva-
ton.
Most army officers draw sharp dis
+, tinctiOn between universal service
and universal training" They be-
lieve that the country will balk al
universal seryice-taking men out OF
civil life for long periods of compul,
f. sorry army service. Universal train
. ing is regarded by all officers as a
democratic method of preparedness.
Universal training could be OBJ
tanned, it was pointed out. through
either Of two methods: % At vol
unteeT summer camps: (2) At camps
made compulsory for youths of GER
tain ages. arranged probably so as
not to interfere with schooling.
Opinion Divided.
The volunteer camp system is re-
, EaTded by officers as the most like
Z Iy to win approval. There are few
r who believe that there is a chance
fol compulsory training unless there
is actual threat of war. in which
case specific legislation such as
tire draft act could be made to meet
, tho emergency.
Several plans. any of which would
3 provide an enlisted reserve. have
been drafted by the War Depart
ment. None of these is regarded as
completed until administration off,
cials pass on them-after the officials
have sounded public sentiment.