Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-26
PROVIDES AN A.! !a!%!$4'
OF 299,060 MEN
And 1900 Offjcers-Army Re-
organization Bill to BE Re-
ported in House To-day-NO
Universal Military Training

Washington, Feb. c5.-Meeting the de-
mand of republican leaders. the House
military committee by a hi partisan vote
tary training in the army re-o-ganisation
bill. which will be formally reported to-
morrow by Chairman Kahn.
In rejecting immediate consideration of
the training plan the committee voted
that It should become the subject of sep
arate legislation to he framed by a
friendly" subcommittee of seven named
by Mr.. Kahn. with an agreement Of tho
leaders that its consideration would not
be blocked after a thorough inquiry had
been made of the cost and economic ef-
fects.
The committee voted ten to six to report
the reorganization bill. providing for a
maximum peace time army of 177oo Of
ficers and $4,000 enlisted men, including
the Philippine Scouts and unassigned re-
cruits.
Unlike the national defense act Of 1916
which the new bill would amend, no def
mite tactical formation of the army is
prescribed this being left discretionary
with the President. This feature is among
the principal causes of the sharp opposi-
tion by the minority.
aviation as a fourth arm of the army
along with the infantry. cavalry and
artillery, each service headed by a
major general. The tank corps is in
cluded in the infantry arm, and the
ch emical warfare service becomes a
separate corps to conduct experiments
In gases
A finance department Is established
by the bill, it's duties being strictly
that of disbursing war department
funds. The general staff is limited to
duties of "a general staff nature" its
personnel being enjoined under the bill
from assuming or engaging in work
of an administrative nature"
In fixing the various grades Of officers.
the bill provides for only one general-the
rank now held by John ]. Pershing-and
directs that the office shall cease to
exist when a vacancy occurs" Twenty
two major-generals are authorized and
46 brigadiers. Nurses, included in the
medical corps. are given relative rank
with officers, but not the pay Of the cor
responding army grades, and chaplains
are to receive relative pay, but not rank.
Enlistments in the regular army are
fixed at one or three years at the option
of the recruit. The various grades Of
discretion. and subject to his change at
any time. Pay of enlisted men is fixed at
$50 to SIS month with a provision
abolishing the present laws for contnu-
Gus service increases and substituting a
fiat ten per cent increase in base pay
for each five years of service.
The strength of the National Guard
800 to each Congressional district, is un-
changed by the bill, but to encourage for
nation of State troops recognition will
be given companies Of so until July l, 1921,
after which the minimum requirement will
be 65 men.
1t is also prescribed by the bill that the
guard of any State may include such
detachments or parts of units as may be
necessary In order to form tactical units
when combined with troops of other
States
Original enlistments in the guard would
he for three years, with the re-enlistment
period being for one year. except that
mon who served in the army within the
last two years may enlist for the one
year period.
Enlistment in the guard reserves would
he for either one or three years, under
regulations prescribed by the secretary
of war. All equipment. including animals
/ would be furnished by the federal gov
ernment and regula tons for paying guard
members for weekly drills would be more
liberal.
When the state troops are called in
TO federal service, as during the World
War their discharge from federal serv- =
| ice under the bill would not carry
with il their release from State serv-
! ice
The chief Of the militia bureau un-
der the bill. would be a guard officer
| or at least ten years service. His ap-
! poiutment would be for IA period Of four
years hut his assistants would he reg
| ular army officers, assigned to that
! duty by the president
All colleges and universities, haVir z
= two-Near physical training course,
| would be entitled to a reserve officers
! training corps, but il would be requir-
| Ell tha' the corps unit have at least
! 100 men. Regular officers, prefera bl y
| those on the retired list, would be ic
| charge OF these units. Schools. pcblic C
or private not having the reserve Of
! ficers training corps would be en-
! titled under the bill to the services OF
an icer-instructor, If the corps num-
bers 100 pupils over IA years old.
| The secretary of war also would be
| authorized to maintain reserve officers
| training corps camps for not longer
| than SIX weeks in a year, and the
| graduates would be eligible for an
| pointment as reserve officers Likewise
| the secretary would be authorized to
| operate camps for civilians. the gra-
| duates of these also he oIiuihia for no