The Washington times., 1919-04-26
WARDEPARTMENT
LAYS ARMY PLANS

Congress will be asked to put the
nations security in the keeping %
strong national force and relegats 20
the national guard. under State con-
\ troll, the job OF maintaining local or
/ der, according to well-infOrmed Off
GERS at the War Department today.
Plans drafted for the general STAFF
provide for universal military training
| ss the heart OF the future army. Sec
retary OF War Baker has not approved
any OF these pending action OF the
peace conference on eonscription and
| disarmament.
National Guard a. LOeal FOree.
In any plan, It is. said. the national
guard will be treated as a local force
and not as the backbone OF the na-
TONS army. This would be a de-
parture from past policy and would
result from the lessons OF the. war,
which demand. il is said, that the en-
tire man-power Of nation be trained
In the main, Administration inter,
probation OF political and public
sentiment will determine what sort Of
peace-time preparedness Is presented
! to the next Congress.
Army experts expect quick decision
after the return OF the President and
Need Army Reserve.
With thousands OF officers enrolled
in the reserve corps, army. men to-
day admitted their anxiegy to form
also real reserve for the necessary
enlisted 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-
gress would never pass such legisla-
tion upon the ground that IL Is MIL
taristic.
About 25 per cent Of officers dis
charged since the armistiee was sign
ed-26 per. cent OF those released up
to February have asked for re-
serve commissions. Hundreds OF pros.
pectiVe officers are being trained At
reserve officers training units In
schools throughout the country.
At present the only enlisted re-
serve, counted on by the army, u
that Of regulars whose enlistments
have expired. National army men
and men in the regular army who
enlisted for the war are discharged
without reservation.
shEFp Distinetioa.
Most army officers draw sharp dis
tinctiOn between universal service"
and universal training" They be-
heve that the country win balk at,
universal service-talxing men out OF
civil life for long periods Of com
pulsory army service. Universal
training is regarded by all officers
as a democratic method OF prepared
ness.
Universal training oould be obtain
ed, it was pointed out, through either
II two methods:
1. At volunteer summer camp&
?. At camps made compulsory for
youths OF certain ages, arranged prob
ably 50 as not to interfere with
schooling.
The volunteer camp system Is re-
garded by officers as the most likely
tc win approval. There are few who
believe that there is a chance for
compulsory training unless there Is
actual threat Of war, In which case
specific legislation. such as the draft
art{ could be made to meet.tfe emery
sney. -
Several Plans Drafted.
Several plans, any OF which would
provide an enlisted reserve. have been
drafted bN@the War Department.
None oe5Sthese is regarded as COM
pleted until Administration Officials
pass on them-aftsr the officials have
sounded public sentiment
The War Department Is allowing
reorganization Of the National
Guard to wait until Congress passes
new legislation. IL was stated Of
hctally today. Because Of local ne
cessity, however, organization OF
$4,000 guardsmen has been author
lied in various States, since April
1917. Only about $4,000 OF these
have actually been organized and ne
further authorizations are eontem-
plated except where there is extreme
Danger Of industrial disorders.
On application OF these States, the
War Department has authorized ere
alton Of a few units OF national
guards: Florida, Idaho, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas.
Virginia, and Washington. Hawaii
and the District Of Columbia have