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Show OUTLINES POLICY FOR UieMIlG WASHINGTON', Feb. 14. A detailed plan for the establishment of a national policy of universal military training and service was laid before Secretary Baker today by the a.rmy general staff. It differs dif-fers radically from that provided tor in the Chamberla in bill, favorably reported Saturday by the senate military committee, commit-tee, in that a full year of training would be required the, absolute minimum. The senate bill is 'based on six months' training. train-ing. The staff bill was submitted to each of pie thirty-six members of that body and represents the consensus of their opinion. It is understood to have been worked out in much greater detail than the senate bill, which leaves wide departmental power pow-er to prescribe regulations. Secretary Baker Ba-ker has indicated" that Die recommendations recommenda-tions of the ' sta ff will be made public later, even in the event that the plan does not receive, the administration's approval, ap-proval, so that it can serve as a basis for discussion before the country after the adjournment of congress and can be pom-pared pom-pared with the senate plan. Advocates of universal service have urged that a referendum be taken when public sentiment senti-ment has been crystallized on the question. ques-tion. , In numerous public addresses, Secretary Baker has made references to compulsory service, winch has been interpreted -by some army officers as an indorsement of some such ' system, but neither he nor President Wilson has definitely committed commit-ted himself. AVUh the staff and senate bills now available, many officials believe be-lieve the question will be given serious consideration at the White house particularly particu-larly in view of the strained international relations. There has been little prospect that the matter would be brought to a definite Issue before the next session of congress, but it is pointed out by advocates advo-cates of such legislation that if the president presi-dent should recommend passage of a uni-versa.l uni-versa.l service bill the present congress could hardly avoid a vote on the subject. The staff bill, which is understood to have been modeled on the Argentine military mili-tary system to some extent, was drawn by a committee of four officers of the general gen-eral staff, headed by Colonel Loekridge. Ten attached officers, on duty a.t the war college, aided in the work. Estimates of cost and numbers were in-cluded in the report of this committee, which was subsequently sub-sequently handed to every officer of the general staff for his indorsement. Minor differences of opinion developed, but on the urgent desirability of passing a universal uni-versal service bill the staff officers are said to be unanimous in their belief that the country can have no assurance of adequate defense unless some such system sys-tem is provided. 1 |