New-York tribune., 1912-02-10
FOLLOWS BLOW AT THE NAVY
Only a Few Days Ago Demo-
cratic Majority Declared
Against Authorizing New
Battleships.
REFUSE MONEY FOR PLANES
Chairman Hays Amendment, 'in the
Interest of Economy" to the Army
Appropriation Bill Adopted
Republicans Will Fight
Reduction.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

From The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, Feb. 9.-After bitter OPP
position from the Republican members
of the Military Affairs Committee tho
House to-day voted TO reduce the cav
airy regiments in the army from fifteen
n ten. The effect OF this amendment on
the army appropriation bill would be the
mastering out Of service OF 1880 enlisted
men 1t is provided that the officers of
the abolished regiments shall be retained
and absorbed into other regiments OF
cavalry or other branches Of the army.
without reduction Of grade.
The abolition Of five regiments OF cav
airy was authorized while the House was
in committee of the whole. The fight to
retain the present strength Of the cav
airy arm will be renewed when the army
bill is put upon its final passage In the
House proper. Representative Hay,
chairman of the Military Affairs Com
mittee. proposed the change. notwith-
standing the fact that it was not carried
in the bill as It came from committee.
The Democratic pretence at economy Is
RESPONSIBLE for the amendment proposed
by Mr.. Hay. The Virginia Representa-
tive charged that the army is topheavy
with cavalry, and despite the opposition
from the Republican side the Demo
Gratis fell into lire and voted for the abb
olition of five regiments. The vote was
viva voce. as the Democratic steam roller
was in excellent working order Only a
fey days ago the Democratic House eau
Gus. also on pretence of economy, voted
that no battleships shall be authorized at
the present session of Congress.
In defence of this slashing Of the army
Mr.. Hay asserted that in the British
army the cavalry is equal to only about
one-sixth of the infantry. In the army
of the United States, he said. the cavalry
is about half the strength Of the in
fantry. a proportion which the chairman
of the Military Affairs Committee con-
sidered too large Ii was estimated by
Chairman Hay that the immediate saw
ing from the reduction in cavalry forca
would be S4376.253.
Representatives Prince, OF Illinois;
Kahn. of California; Butler, OF Pennsyl-
vania. Anthony, Of Kansas, and other
Renublicans attacked the Hay amend
ment in the strongest terms They said
that If any change in the proportion OF
cavalry was to be made it should como
only, after the army authorities had re-
norted a comprehensive scheme OF re-
organization.
The present strength Of the army Is
thirty regiments Of infantry and fifteen
~ cavalry. The Hay amendment, II re-
tained in the final draft of the army
onnropriation bill, would become effec-
tive on July 1, 1912.
The Republican members Of the House
also were unsuccessful in their efforts
N obtain an increased appropriation for
the nurchase of aeroplanes. Represen-
,ative Prince offered an amendment 10
Increase the appropriation from S75,OOO
70 S125.O00, but the Democrats voted
,t down. Representative Mann, the mi
noritv leader, made an urgent plea for
q moro liberal allowance for aeroplanes,
declaring that this feature OF the ap-
rronriation bill. above all others, should
not be subjected to the Democratic
rruning knife. He said it was the most
imnortant action Congress could take
70 ,mprove the efficiency OF the army.
The United States, he added, was behind
,tber nations i'm the use of the aeroplane
for war purposes and should reduce
other expenditures If necessary 70 IN
crease it's aerial force.
The majority. however, was obdurste
and stood by the chairman OF the COM
mittee.