The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-05-23
REPUBLICANS SHAPE
PROGRAM FOR ARMY
Strong National Guard to Be Feature
With Universal Training,
Swiss Model.

Washington, May 20.-The national
defense program for the United States
favored by a majority Of the house
military affairs committee after weeks
Of study overseas includes the follow
ing, according to Representative An
thony Of Kansas, ranking republican
member and a pacifist before the war.
First. A small regular army, with
a greatly increased number of Of
ficers, so it car be quickly expanded
in case of an emergency.
Second. A strong national guard.
Third. Some sort Of universal mil
litary training modelled after the Swiss
citizen-soldiery system, but not so ex-
tensive.
Bills to Be Advanced.
Bills to carry out the majority view
of the committee will be introduced
soon, Mr.. Anthony said Monday. With
other members he returned from
France in time to be here for the or-
%ganization of the house.
This program will not meet with
the support Of the overseas general
staff. Mr.. Anthony said members
of the committee got the impression
from their visit to American head
quarters that the A. E. F. officers
favored a universal training system.
The officers, he explained, are work
ing on two plans for submission to
congress. One would entail an outlay
of $750,OO0,000 a year and the other
about a billion dollars.
According to the Kansan, most of
the members of the committee held
up their hands in horror when they
heard this. They don't think the peo-
pie of the United States want to spend
a billion a year to train it's young men
in the art of warfare, especially when
it is just about to join a league of ma
tions to prevent future wars This
does not mean that they don't want
an adequate defense system.
Official Figures Refused.
Try as they would, the members Of
the committee we're unable to get any
line on what our overseas military
program is. They simply were re
fused figures. They were told we are
going to keep soldiers in Europe prob
ably for years to come. But whether
it is to be one, two or a dozen dlvl'
sions they weren't given an mixing.
The impression Of the committee
Anthony said, is that American sol
diers should be brought back to this
country at the earliest possible date
The recommendations of the commit
tee had a lot to do with the actor
taken Saturday night by the republi
can caucus urging the return OF sol
diers as quickly as possible.
According to Anthony, the soldier
overseas are for the military program
which the committee will recommend
The national guard is held in hlg
esteem everywhere. Its work durln'
the war was studied carefully by tn
committee. After the investigate
the committee is ready to urge tina
the national guard be the bulWark Q
our defense system.
Soldiers Want to Get Home.
Anthony and other members OF tn
committee said that the America
2 soldiers, with the exception Of thos
in the army of occupation, think c
little else than getting home. TN
committee travelled about France !
. special train. 1t visited all OF th
American camps and stations OF TT
service of supply, which include ever!
thing but the army Of occupation.
The one big cry heard everywhe1
was: ."We want home"
In some places, Anthony said, tt
soldiers shouted this at the committt
III cOllege yen laSHlOH.
"We are engineers, but we wa
home just the same" a placard in OF
camp greeted the committee. At a,
other place was a big sign readin!
"Mr. Congressmen-Do your be
to get US home at once"
So it was evry place in France tt
committee went. The soldiers wa.
to come home. They are so Gag
to return that the officers Of II
army are not trying to hide it fro
visitors.
iAIRPLANE PRODUCTION