The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-10-14
$4OO,OOO,000
FOR DEFENSE
Combined Army and Navy
Budget to Be Sent to Con-
gress by President
PLAN TO RAISE
ARMY TO 12O, 900

With Reserve of 100000 Trained Men
Navy Estimates BASED on Five
Year Program Four Ships the
First Year.
WASHINGTON, Oct 14-Four hun
dred million dollars for national defense
an increase of approximately $40 900, 900
over last year-constitutes the amount
which President Wilson and his advisers
at present estimate should be appropriated
by the next Congress for the army and
navy. As the date-Friday-fo compile
ton of the annual estimates draws near,
the President is giving preliminary consid-
Grafton to the national defense budget out
of which it is hoped to lay down a strong
er naval program than the United States
ever has authorized in its history and SINH
larly Il larger provision for the military
establishment than has been customary in
time of peace.
| The President has had before him for
several weeks the outlines of a military
policy of a continuing character framed by
/ Secretary Garrison after more than
years study with officers Of the general
staff. With it the President is in hearty
accord, regarding 1t as a conservative, we'll
( balanced program. While the details have
not been revealed, Il substantial increase in
the regular army. probably from $1,000
to at least 100000 men. and the creation
of reserve of perhaps 100000 men
through short-term enlistment service of
citizens Interested in military training are
said to be parts of the plan.
As yet the exact appropriation to be
definitely recommended for the army and
the navy, respectively, has not been def
nitely fixed. Indications are that the
Iarmy's budget Of $4,000 900 last year
will be increased by at least SGO,000G00,
while Secretary Daniels is figuring on OBJ
tanning a 500, 100000 increase over the
navy appropriation OF Sis 100000 OF last
Eyear.
When the President and secretaries of
war and navy confer next week, 1t is under
stood, an effort viii he made to bring the
total sum within the S40O, 100000 mark
as at present the combined total which
the two branches Of the service will sub
NIT to the President, it is said, make about
$50 100000 If the needs OF the two
services can be cut to $4o00 600, the
total lncrease oyer Bastzyear will be abont
S14OD0O,U00. The general vlew in admin
istration quarters now Is that bond issue
will be proposed as a means OF meeting
, the added expense,
The Presidents determination to urge
upon Congress in his next message de
Tense program to cost about S4O0 $50 0O(
has been emphasized in high official quar-
ters in the last few days following Mr.
= Wilson's recent speech saying the Ameri
can people We're convinced that the United
T. States should be very adequately prepared
not for war. but for defense Much inter
l,.r+ I. Il
- the President intends to hold with mem
bers of Congress, at which it is believed
the procedure for the army and navy bill
4 will be discussed. Both will be made ad
ministration measures, and they prObabl,
, will be given right of way over all Iegis
I lation IL the hope that several months
time will be save in construction work 70
) the navy and strengthening OF the army.
Chairman Hay of the house military al
fairs committee viii confer with the Pres
!. dent today concerning the plans for tn
a army, and Monday Secretary Garrison
expected to return to Washington and be
gin a series of talks with the President O
z the defense program. Secretary Daniel
4 said yesterday that both the President an
Z Chairman Padgett of the house naval a
fairs committee seemed to approve of til
4 idea of a five-year naval building program
1--WE have been considering and we il
! tend to recommend to Congress program
for five years." said the secretary. &C
course no Congress can bind another, br
if Congress would appropriate on the b;
e sis of a five-year building plan, we eoul
IS go forward on construction more rapid
l. than formerly. l believe Congress will d
lit" ...-...-. -.....- ..-....- ..
The secretary expressed the belief tbs
n more dreadnoughts than battle cruiser