New-York tribune., 1920-04-21
Senate Passes
Army Bill With
Training Plan
Education of Officers for
General Staff Is Made a
Feature of Military Or
ganization for First Time
Courts Martial Revised
National Guard Given Regu-
lar Status and System of
Promotion Is Reformed
From The Tribane's Washington Bureau

FROM me 1rt6Nne's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 2O.-The Sen
at, passed the army reorganization
bill, providing for system Of volun-
tary military training for young men
from eighteen to twenty three years
OF age, by vote of as to 10 to-day
ne measure now goes to conference,
where 1T will meet opposition of the
House of Representatives to some of its
provisions before it is sent TO Presi-
dent Wilson for his approval.
The bill was passed after more than
a week of discussion, during which
TIME the changes recommended by the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs
were made. AS passed the principal
features of the bill arc as follows:
1t creates a permanent regular army
of 100000 men and 17,043 officers, in
stead Of the 100000 men and $4,000
officers provided for in the bill as il
passed the House.
1t provides plan of voluntary mill
tary training for young men. who shall
become part Of the reserve army if
they enlist for training.
Guard Under General Staff
1t establishes one single national
army, with the former National Guard
given the status OF militia under the
general supervision Of the general staff
of the regular army, and actually II
part of the United States army.
Provision is made for the first time
in army legislation in the United States
for the training of officers for the army
general staff. The general staff is re-
organized and made the directing ma
chinery for military operations.
The courts martial system Of the army
Is reorganized. A board of review is
created to pass upon the findings of
courts martial. accused army men are
given the right to employ civilian coun-
sci, and maximum penalties are i'm
posed for violation of the articles Of
war IN order to prevent niust and
drastic sentences for minor offenses.
The system Of promotions that has
heretofore existed in the army is
changed by providing that all officers
who are promoted in any branch Of the
military service must be on single
list of officers embracing all branches
Of the service.
Twenty-Five Republicans and twenty
one Democrats voted for the bill. while
nine Democrats and one Republican
voted against it.
Just before the vote was had the
Senate defeated efforts of the oppo-
nents of tho bill to modify the new
amendment offered by Senator Lenroot.
Republican, of Wisconsin. to eliminate
the construction service division of the
army created in the bill
Inclusion of the National Guard as
part OF UNIFIED national army by the
Senate will create difficulties in the
conference committee. Senator Wads-
worth, of New York. chairman of the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs
said after the bill had passed.
The House defeated an amendment
to the bill when the measure was in
that body to make the National Guard
a part of the national army and place
it under the direction of. the general
staff OF the regular army, and adoI ted
instead of the provision adopted by
the Senate. the former plan of retain
ing the separate identity of the Ma
tional Guard and making it separate
organization under the exclusive con-
troll of the various states.
81 expect that there will be difficult