The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-08
General March
Figures Army Cost

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.-The per-
manent military policy recommended
by the war department, involving, un-
der revised estimates, a standing peace
army of $4,000 and universal mill
tary training for youths of nineteen
years of age would cost the country
5000, 900 900 annually, General Pey'
ton C. March, chief -of-staff, told the
senate military subcommittee, con-
sidering army legislation.
General March, who appeared as the
first witness in behalf Of the depart
ment's bill, was unable to conclude his
statements today and will appear
again tomorrow. Secretary Baker will
present his views to the committee
next week and General Pershing and
other experts later.
Of the $9O0,000,00 General March
said $79S 100000 would be required
for the upkeep of the proposed stand
ing army while three months intensive
training for 19-year-old youths would
cost $94, ,O66,5O0 annually He esti-
mated the per capita cost for this
training at $14475.
The chief-of staff asserted that the
present time was most appropriate for
inauguration of system of military
training inasmuch as military camps
were in readiness over the country
and also the necessary equipment. He
said that when universal military
training first was considered by
committee of the general staff, nine
months training was recommended
but this later was reduced to seven.
In the belief that form of training
should be adopted that would create
the least disturbance to the body po-
litic, the training period upon his rec
ommendation, he said, was reduced
finally to three months.
General March said that youths sub
ject to military training under the bill
would not be subject to service in case
of a declaration of war without furth-
err legislation of congress. He also
said it was proposed to provide three
distinct training periods of three
months each in order not to disturb
industrial and educational conditions
any more than necessary.
The war department bill, General
March said, contemplates 21 divisions
of regulars. Three Of these divisions,
or about $4,000 men would be sta
toned in outlying possessions, while
18 divisions or about $4,000 would
be used in camps throughout the coun-
try for the purpose of training men
under the universal military service
plan.
Senator Johnson, republican, Cali
fornia, and several other senators,
were inclined to doubt the necessity
; of establishing permanent peace
army of $1,000, the former asking
. the reason for providing for that
manv men.
, "If we want to 90 back to the de-
D tense that existed when the war start
t ed. there is no need for il" replied
General March. "But if you want to
establish training overhead around
which you can build a larger army in
case of emergency, it is necessary"
docs universal peace bring with
y i, the necessity for universal train
e ing?" asked Senator Johnson. Gen"
eral March smiled but did no. answer.
Had some system of universal
training been in effect when the
: United States entered the var, Cen
eral March told the committee, bill
= lions of dollars would have been saw
ed In urging passage of the bill ne
said that it had been formulated from
experience resulting from the war and
= said it was necessary for this country
to adopt some kind of military pol
q icv that would not find US so unpre-
n pared as we were when we went into
the war"