The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-23
Secretary of War Baker Ex.
plains to Senate Committee
Need Of Strong Force
LARGE MILITARY BILL
is UNDER DISCUSSION
Measure Was Framed BY Army
Officers With the Approval of
the War Department
Washington

Washington, Aug. 1S.-Secretary
Baker defended today before the sen
ate subcommittee on military affairs
his recommendation for an army OF
576,0 600 men by saying that in view OF
the disturbed conditions in the
world" he did not wish the response
bility Of asking for small force.
Secretary Baker indicated several
times that the bill as presented in
Guiding its provision for compulsory
universal military training for g year
old youths was that. Of military en-
perts rather than his own, although it
had his approval. He said that his
own guess was that an army of
576, 600 was perhaps somewhat larger
than necessary, but that he did cot
wish to take the responsibility of op-
posing the opinion Of the country S
greatest military men.
Regarding the provision for main
tenance of three divisions in the insu-
lar possessions the secretary admitted
that the force appeared to him some
what large and agreed to the sugges-
ton Of Senator Wadsworth Of New
York that native troops might be used
to advantage. The senator had re-
marked that at present it seemed that
every American soldiers kept in the
Philippines WIS there somewhat in thi
nature of a 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 train
ing, possibly as a substitute for the
training he otherwise would receive jn
the army
The interrogation of the secretary
offered the opportunity for securing
his opinion on the proposed establish
rnent of an air ministry. Senator New,
Of Indiana, presented arguments for
the separation of the. military ana
aeronautics but he was frank in his
decision Of the opinion that it woul''
make for efficiency,
Difficulty would be experienced, Mr.
Baker said, in maintaining the proper
coordination under separate heads and
if a more adequate air service is de-
sired, he suggested it would! be more
practicab Bile to utilize the existing mil
itary organizations.
Another reason given by the secre-
tary for opposing a centralization OF
aviation was that it would tend TO dis
courage competition in the develop
ment of aerial appliances. Aviation,
he said, is yet so new that all the IN
genuity and inventions that can be
had are needed. He also explained tc
the committee the difficulty an air
ministry would have in handling its pi-
lots when separately trained, indicat-
ing the necessity from the point of
the military men of having the air
men so drilled with the army men
that there would be the least possible
chance of failure when it came to CO.
ordination.
The testimony devclved that the
United States has now 10,71S air.
planes Of which, however, only 1928
are service planes. The major part
of the present equipment now is obso-
lete but it was asserted by the sccre-
tary, the types are better than any IN
Europe. An equalization Of those
types coupled with the expense in pro-
duction that has been had would, he
believed, serve to save mucn LIME if it
should again become necessary TO
bring that branch Of the service to a
war basis.
The secretary said that if the gov
ernn1ent wished to develop he air in
dustry either for commerce or for
war purposes the solution was simply
spend the money 10 buy
more planes.