The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-30
BAKER-MARCH BILL UNSOUND SAYS OFFICER Maj. McIlraine Says Swiss Training System Is
 Best. THREE MONTHS
 COURSE TOO SHORT National Service Act Pro vides Citizen Army
 System.

New York, Sept. 3O-In a letter to the Secretary of War, Major Tomkins McIIvane, acting chairman of the ex- ecutive committee of the Military Training Camps Association, charac- terizes as thoroughly unsound the Baker-March army bill, providing for a standing army of 576,0OO and three months training for youths on at tainment of their 18th year.
 Tn my opinion" says Major Me Invaine, this bill would perpetuate our worst mistakes.
 Commenting on the training fea- ture of the measure, Major NIcIlvaine says in the letter, made public yester- day by the National Security League. that three months would afford only half training. He also criticizes the absence of provision for the organiza- ton of a citizen army or for progress i've training for the qualification of reserve officers.
 There is a great difference," he proceeds. "between half training and then turning loose a number of young men as private soldiers and creating an organization a citizen army that can be mobilized in an emer- gency and that when mobilized will be ready to take the field and function efficiently.
 The administration bill altogether loses sight of the fact that it takes longer o train the officers, non-com- missioned officers and enlisted spe- cialists than it does the privates. Without training these leaders in ad- vance. it is, from the citiezn army standpoint, largely a waste of time and money to train the private sol diers.
 "On the outbreak of war we shall have no organized Federal force ex- cept the regular army.
 ITO sum up: We do not want, and we do not need in time of peace, any such professional force as a standing army of over half million men, while in time of war even so large a professional army would be wholly inadequate for national defence.
 "A large standing army is not only the most expensive system, but 1t is uneconomic, undemocratic and un- American. It is opposed to the idea of a reduction of armaments. and so is the antithesis of any league of na- tions. And. finally, 1t is inapra ctica- ble because of the impossibility of ob- taining recruits in sufficient numbers.
 The universal training features Of the administration bill are not only next door to worthless from a military standpoint but are equally valueless on the educational and vocational side.
 Three months is too short a period in which to give genuine educational vocational and military training.
 ''On the other hand, The National Service Act or Kahn bill, also now before Congress, pro- vides a citizen army system-officer and men-based on the American and democratic principle of equality of obligation and opportunity for all.
 This system has been tried out in democratic countries, notably Switz- erland and Australia, and has proven a success. It is suited to our own in- stitutions and traditions.
 Under this plan the size of the professional force is the minimum necessary in peace for what may be called administrative purposes; that is, for overseas garrisons, skeleton force for coast defence, small mobile force for minor emergencies and for training and other detachments The cost will be less by hundreds of mill | lions of dollars