New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-22
m REDUCE THE ARMY
VIZ. TAFT WOULD PLACE
1T At 10000 MEN.
p,-x;dsnt Issued Orders, 1t Is Be.
Geocd. in Response TO Demand
for Military Economy.
iron The Trioun. Bureau. J

~..,iurton. Aug 2l.-The military strength
...n. limited States will be reduced 10 $4,000
- nv July !. 1910. Instructions 10 this effect
49,. hetn sent TO the Secretary of War by
p,.ei6eat Taft
-. fact that such instructions had been issued
,..sme known among army officers to-day. and
.,a complete surprise. To carry into effect
..1 Presidents order il will be necessary TO
..,,,nish the enlisted force by nearly 10 per
-, and In the next few months il is probable
,srs Will be a temporary suspension Of recruit
-, same time the General Staff has been at
-o-s on an elaborate plan for an increase in
=. .-rny. and the War Department officials ex-
-s-,s6 10 obtain the approval OF the President
20 Secretary Dickinson for their project in
s,-,s 70 submit the detailed scheme to Congress
:. sine heginnirg Of the next regular session in
December.
The project viii not be abandoned however
..c.uss il relates largely 10 an increase in the
.,omssioned personnel and deals also with de-
4-.s changes in organization. Some Of the i'm
,crtapt ideas which have met with the favor Of
the General stan and are understood TO have
tbe Endorsement Of General Bell. chief of staff
,5n not be carried out, as they involve increases
IN the enlisted force.
!, army circles il is believed that the reduc-
tim order was given by the President because Of
his desire 70 meet the wishes Of those members
NJ Congress who have been insisting on greater
economy IN military expenditures They regard
,he order as significant however, as showing
Nr Taft's attitude toward the military estab-
ushnent and as indicating his views concerning
certain plans for reorganization and increase.
Economy IN military expenditures could be
brought about in two ways-either by stopping
al but absolutely necessary work on new con-
struction al army posts at home and beyond the
seas, or by cutting down the force itself
There Will be no reduction in the number Of
,ecers as this is a matter for Congress TO de-
,s-rpne The President has the right to add to
~ take from the enlisted force, provided il is
kent within a total Of 10000 men. The present
enlisted force consists Of about SIS 900 men. This
Includes the Uen Of the army hospital corps.
the enlisted force Of the Philippine scouts and
the members Of the newly organized service
school detachments.
The reduction win be effected by suspension
q, recruiting within the next few months until
he total strength is $4,000, which Mr.. Taft has
ordered shall be the maximum force al the be-
ginning Of the next fiscal year. In the mean
tine the War Department win be able 10 ac-
conplish some saving in expenditures in the
diminished cost Of supplying clothing. subsist-
s1oe and transportation.
hts estimated that the cost 20 the govern
nent Of maintaining soldier in time OF peace
Il about 81 900 year. but il does not follow that
g reduction Of the enlisted force from $4,000 to
5000 will enable the government TO make an
snnual saving OF s9.60oOoo.