Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1919 — MEN WHO FOUGHT LAST WILL FIGHT NEXT. [ARTICLE]

MEN WHO FOUGHT LAST WILL FIGHT NEXT.

Washington, D. C., Nov. 10.—Majority members of the house committee on military affairs are preparing an army reorganization bill lacking universal military training, but providing for a reserve army of about 1,000,000 men who had experience in the late war. These are the outstanding features: Regular army of 289,000 officers and enlisted men. Reserve of men who saw service or had training in the war with Germany, and also the national guard of the several states. Increased officers’ reserve corps. Independent military and commercial air services. Tank and chemical warfare branches. Transportation service separate from the quartermaster’s department Promotion of regular army officers by selection from single list Line officers as chiefs of the various arms of the service. General staff college, through which officers must pass before detail to the general staff. Sponsors of the ' bill say universal military training would be defeatedat this time. Only seven members of the committee, it is declared, are ready to vote for it now. Still, advocate of universal training are certain to urge it as an amendment if the bill comes from committee as now outlined. No final vote has been taken in committee. The reserve army plan, backed by Chairman Kahn of the committee, would make attractive enlistment in the United States army by organizing local units made up, as far as possible, in a way to retain war time associations; adding thereto government equipment, armories, commissary, and other privileges. The idea is to restrict membership to those who have received actual training, offering nominal pay of $24 a. year, but providing two weeks or more each year for mobilization, or inspection. Mr. Kahn figures this plan will cost about |50,000,000 a year for a reserve army’ of about 1,000,000 men. The army staff plan of a standing army of 578,000 men would cost close to $1,000,000,000 a year. The national guard would be preserved as a training agency from which men could go into the reserve army. Reasons for increased officers’ reserve corps are obvious.