New-York tribune., 1920-02-24
Training Plan
May Be Ousted
From Army Bill
No Decision Is Reached So
Far, but House Leaders
Admit That Such Action
Does Not Appear Unlikely

WASHINGTON, Feb. Universal
military training may not be included
in the House army reorganization bill
under plan adopted to-day by Re-
publican leaders calling for considcra-
ton of the measure the latter part of
this week. None of the leaders to-
night would deny that omission of a
training plan was likely. but asserted
that no final agreement had been made
with advocates Of the training pro-
posal.
Despite the decision Of the Military
Committee adopting universal train
ing, IN principle, as q part of the coun-
try's future military policy, efforts
were made to-day to prevent the com
mittee decision from appearing in the
reorganization bill.
Chairman Kahn, who held numerous
informal conferences with the leaders
and supporters of training, said no de-
clslon had been reached. Representa-
tive Mondell, the Republican floor
leader, declined to discuss the move
ment further than to assert the army
bill was slated to come before the
House Thursday.
Separate Bill Urged
MI Mondell was understood to have
suggested the discard of the training
plan, he being supported by other
House leaders, who assert that passage
OF reorganization bill, including a
training plan, is impossible at present
The floor leader is understood to have
proposed that instead of attempting
adoption of training plan the army
Dill merely provide for Con-
gressional commission on "physical and
military training" which would make a
report to Congress next December.
Such an authorization, it was said
might bring the training plan before
the House as a separate propositions
Mr. Kahn was understood to oppose
dlscardlng the advantage already
gained in the Military Committed
without a definite agreement that
the universal training bill, as a
separate proposal, would be given pref
erential status later. He was said not
to- have secured this promise.
The committee draft OF the reor-
ganization bill does rot include any
declaration of policy with respect to
universal training. After the commit
tee decision to recommend adoption Of
the training it was decided to refer
the question to subcommittee to
work out the details. No meeting of
this committee, a majority of which op-
poses the framing, mas been held or
called, and the adoption of an outline
of plan and it's inclusion in the bill.
with a final committee recommendation
in time for House consideration be-
ginning Thursday seemed impossible
tonight.
The Military Committee will con-
tinue its work on the army reorganiza-
ton bill tomorrow and it is possible
that some decision on universal train
ing will be made at that time.
100000 Peace Army
The bill provides for a standing
peace time army with maximum COM
batant strength of 25O,000 men, and
1900 officers. This force would be
the skeleton of nine divisions, capable
of expansion in time of war, and be-
sides including the infantry, cavalry
and artillery would provide personnel
for the aviation, chemical warfare and
tank corps.
The National Guard. under the House
bill, would remain at the, presents au-
thorizcd strength of 800 men to each
Congressional district, but the measure
would provide more leniently for the
organization of militia companies