The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-04-08
DRAFTS ALL BOYS
into SERVICE AT 10
NEW PLAN OF ARMY "RING"
PROVIDES FOR UNIVERSAL
COMPULSORY TRAINING.


WASHINGTON, D. Cit is posi-
bic tonight for the first time to re-
veal the more essential details of the
army program for universal, compul-
sorry military training to be recon-
mended as the future military poll
cy OF the United States. The scheme.
when compared with the pre-war sys-
TEN of a small regular army and a
comparatively small national guard,
IS almost staggering in its magnitude.
incidentally, it foreshadows one of
the bitterest fights that will come up
during the new congress.
Under the scheme, which is taking
final form at the army war college,
all youths in the United States. on
attaining the age of nineteen years,
will be drafted for a period of mill
tary training in the various perma-
nent environments throughout the
country. They will be summoned to
duty under draft system very sim
liar to that employed during the war,
but there will be suitable exemptions
for educational, business and family
reasons.
Upon completion of the training.
which Is to continue for less than a
year, the graduated classes will be
placed in the army reserve subject
to call for active duty at times of
national emergency The first and
second graduated classes, those one
and two years out of training. will
be an organized reserve" complete.
with officers assigned. When this pc
Rod is completed, according to the
present scheme, the men will pass
merely into the reserve, not subject
to call for active duty unless author
lied by special act of congress.
Taps" for National Guard.
The scheme as it is being worked
out does away completely with the
national guard. 1t will all be the
national army" created at the out
break OF the war. 1t is possible, how
ever, that there will be provision for
the creation of state constabularies
whenever it is desired by the inGivid-
uaI states, for the purpose of quiet
ing internal disorder, such as strikes
and riots, or for police duty in time
of public disaster.
The scheme provides for obtaining
reserve officer personnel through
classes at various colleges and uni
VersltIes along the lines of the stu
dent army training corps instituted
during this war at most Of the larger
institutions in the country. There is |
to be way also for the advanced
training of these officers in special
camps to be conducted by the army. |
In addition, it is proposed that
there be retained in the United |
States regular army of about the |
pre-War size, with a maximum of CT !
flcers and men at 1877, 900, including |
the staff corps. This will be divided |
INTO six divisions, cut down to peace |
time strength, and intended to serve
as the nucleus for the universal |
training and also as an expeditionary
army, to be thrown out as an adj |
vance unit in any military enterprise,
preparatory to the arrival of the re-
serve organizations.
$4,000 to 725,OOO to Glass.
According to the estimates of the
war department in all probability
there will be between $4,000 and
725,OO0 raen available for each years
training Glass. 1t will depend entirely
on the legislation to be passed bv
congress relating to exemptions. The
opinion seems to prevail in the army
that congress in approving any
scheme for universal service would
make liberal provision for exemptions
for family, educational and business
reasons.
They say it is quite clear at this
time that the West Point "ring" in
the regular army is determined that
there shall be no national guard.
State guards there may be, but as
vital factor in the national military
the militia will pass in
to oblivion # the army has its wav.
Congress is watching the moves.
Members interested in the develop-
ment Of the national guard are seek
ing information as to the plans of
the war department with respect to
the guard.