Ogden Daily Standard | 1920-01-21 | Page 1 | Baker Urges Compulsory Training

I BAKER URGES COMPULSORY TRAINING llllVRk . m (B. a a o " a I SECRETARY OF WAR I HORSES MEASURE I FOR AMERICAN ARMY lllfl Calls or Formation of One( IIIH Military Organization For Unted States i REORGANIZATION PLAN IH DECLARED EXCELLENT III Regulars to Comprise 280,000 III Men Under Proposed Law; Guard Is Recognized j WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 The army m reorganization bill drafted by the -sen- I ate military subcommittee, was en- I ; dorsed today by Secretary Baker, who I ' appeared before the full committee. I I "This is the most statesman-like at-I at-I .' tempt to reorganize the army ever I made in any country and is an exceed- I I ingly able and effective piece of leg- '.. islalion," he said. I I The measure provides for ' compul-I compul-I sory military training and the forma-I forma-I ! tion of one big army to be divided I into a citizens' reserve army, the rcg-I rcg-I :; ular army consisting of 2SO.O0O men I I and the national guard. I i Reference to Pershing. While disclaiming any "personal in-j! in-j! lerest or almost none" in the matter, i Secretary Baker opposed provisions which would make General Pershing chief of staff. These provisions would i in effect abolish the war department as long as General Pershing was on the active list, the secretary said, adding add-ing that the- president or the secre- ' tar yo war should be permitted to name the chief .of staff In view of the fact that, he is the military adviser . and the man upon whom both depend for carrying out the military policy. No Military Autocracy. - Senator Frelinghuysen, Republican, New Jersey, suggested that the pur- l pose was to provide a place for Gen- ( eral Pershing. ' "We can't afford to make a military ' autocracy in America in order to find r a place for an officer," the secretary i said. "I think when you place a mill- tary man in a place created by law : and you can't replace him, you are doing do-ing something that I believe the con- i stitution prohibits. It is Impolitic and i constitutionally infirm." 1 Declaring he had discussed the mat- t ter with General Pershing, Mr. Baker j said he did not think the general f would care to have the place. I General Pershing's future relations to the army organization form a prob- 1 lem, Secretary- Baker said, In finding an assignment for him of importance i and dignity corresponding to his high B rank. K Senator Frelinghuysen said that in W supporting the proposal designed to t make Pershing chief of staff, he did i ft uot intend to cast any reflection upon1 M the work during the war of General ,t w March, the present chief. h