The New York herald., 1920-01-04
LAWMAKERS SPLIT
OVER UNIVERSAL
MILITARY TRAINING
House Opposed While Senate
Measure Provides Period of
Compulsory Soldering.
Herald Bureau,
No. f,5O2 II Street, N. W.,
Washington, ID. C., saturday.


The Military Affairs committees of the
Senate and House have disagreed upon
the policy of universal military training.
Tis was disclosed today by an announce
ment of a subcommittee OF the Senate
committee. The Senate committee is pre-
pairing TO report an army reorganizing
bill, with a provision for universal mill
tary training. This the House has de-
cided not to incorporate in the bill it is
preparing.
One reason for the failure of the House
to recommend universal military training
it is said, is because of the insistence upon
rigid economy by Republican leaders The
divergence of opinion presents a situa-
ton which may delay final action upon
the army reorganization legislation until
late in the session.
The Senate and House bills are in vir-
tual agreement as to the size of the per-
manent army. the latter bill providing for
100000 enlisted men. with the necessary
complement of Officers" and the Senate
fixing the enlisted personnel at 900 900.
with 24.0o0 officers.
Senate's Military Programme.
In submitting the proposed military pro-
gramme to the Senate the committee today
made public the following statement
THE bill seeks TO establish a sound and
economical military policy based on equal
opportunity and equal obligation. with an
organizational machinery through which
all or any necessary part of the man
power of the nation may be deployed in
time to meet any national emergency.
In order to accomplish these funda-
mentals Of military policy it proposes uni
versal military training, an organized citi-
mar nv.I
professional soldiers required to perform
certain continuous military duties which
cannot be performed by citizen soldiers"
The statement announces that while uni
versal military training is provided for,
there will be no compulsory military SER
vice in time of peace. The National Guard
is to be retained as part of the citizen
army, which is to include also the organ
lied reserves subject to military service
only in declared emergency.
War Veterans Exempt
The period of compulsory training will
be for four months" the announcement
continues. beginning normally in the
nineteenth year. but subject to deferment
one, two or three years. under proper
regulations. Exemptions from training
are to be reduced to a minimum, but no
vteran of the world war is to be subject
to compulsory training or service in time
of peace"
Provision is made for creating the office
Of Under Secretary OF War, charged with
the solution OF the great industrial and
business problems involved in the pro-
curement of military supplies" 1t also
provides for the organization Of the gen
eral staff into the WAR Department Cen
eral Staff and the General Staff with
troops"
Discussing the permanent personnel the
statement continues
ut Is estimated that the number of
trained officers and men required for all
purposes, including training. Will be about
1900 officers and 100000 enlisted men. All
Of these must be sufficiently trained to
perform their duties, but all need not be
professional members of the permanent
establishment.
"The bill places the strength OF the pro-
fessional personnel as 1900 officers and
$4,000 enlisted men. Before universal
training can begin there will be ample
time to organize the training forces and
to determine to what extent reserve Off
GERS and reservists can be included in. it.
"The bill will provide for the organiza-
ton of the air service as a separate COM
bat branch of the army, and will provide
for chief of each combat service, includ-
ing the infantry and cavalry.
system TO Function in 1921.
The bill Will provide that until the Sys-
TEN OF training is inaugurated in 1921 the
permanent personnel allotted for training
purposes may be organized with tactical
units available for general military uses.
AT least half of the original vacancies
created in the reorganization of the per-
manent commissioned personnel will be
filled by selection ( rom among deserving
veterans OF the war" A system of promo
tions based upon merit is provided.