Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/276

MILITARY ORGANIZATION military establishment, and measures were introduced in both Houses of Congress to bring this about. There was a strong disposition on the part of many to incorporate in the new measures a system of compulsory training, but it was found impossible, in the light of public opinion in relation to the question, to carry this into effect, although the measures as finally constituted provided for a voluntary system of training under the direction of the Army.    According to the provisions of the Army Reorganization Bill, which was finally passed in the latter part of April, 1920, the Army of the United States includes the Regular Army, with all the regular branches of the service, and, in addition to these, Chemical Warfare Division and a Division of Aerial Warfare. It includes also the Philippine Scouts. In the time of peace the Regular Army consists of 280,000 enlisted men.

The peace establishment includes, in addition to the Regular Army, the National Guard of the various States and a body known as the Organized Reserves. Provision was made in the measure for the organization of these branches by a committee of the General Staff of the War Department.

The measure provides for the rates of pay for enlisted men, ranging from $74 monthly for the first grade to $30 monthly for the seventh grade.

The General Staff Corps was constituted, consisting of a Chief of Staff, the War Department General Staff, and the General Staff Troop. The War Department General Staff consists of the Chief of Staff and four assistants selected by the President from regular officers and 88 other officers not below the rank of Captain. The duties of the War Department General Staff are to prepare plans for national defense, and the use of the military forces for that purpose and for the mobilization of the manhood of the country and its material resources in case of emergency. It has also the duty of investigating and reporting upon all questions affecting the efficiency of the Army and its state of preparation for military operations. The Chief of Staff presides over the War Department General Staff.

The Assistant Secretary of War is charged with the supervision of the procurement of all military supplies and other business of the War Department pertaining thereto. There is constituted a War Council which includes the Secretary of War, the Assistant Secretary of War, the General of the Army, and the Chief of Staff. It is the function of this Council to consider policies affecting both the military and munitions problems of the United States.

There was created a Finance Department, to consist of a Chief of Finance with the rank of Brigadier-General, and 141 officers ranking in grade from Colonel to Second Lieutenant and 900 enlisted men. The Chief of Finance has the duty of disbursing all funds of the War Department.

Certain changes were made in the matter of relative rank, affecting chiefly the Medical and Dental Corps and the Army Nurse Corps. The purpose of this