South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-15
ARMY ESTIMATE
CUT BY WILSON
Congress Will be Asked to Ap-
prOpriate $182,000,00O.
Plan Reserve Force.


affairs committee. for a national de-
Tense program for the army which
calls for a citizen reserve" a nOmi-
nal increase In the standing army.
generous allowances for aerOplanes.
field artillery and ammunition, ano
an appropriation bill at the next ses-
sion OF congress approximating $751;
600, 600. Secy Garrison wanted an
army bill OF S25O.O0O.000. He pro-
posed heavy increases in every branch
OF the service, including a larger
standing army than Mr.. Hay would
cOuntenance. The president pruned
down the tentative estimates TO the
s1S2. 900. 600 fgure-which means the
forthcoming army appropriation bill
will be about S85, 100000 more than
the average army appropriation bill
The basis for the army program is
THE citizen reserve" recruited at the
rate OF 1913. 900 men per annum.
These men will be trained two
months in each year for an enlistment
period Of three years. They will be
subject TO call 10 the cOlors for three
additional years.
The administration plan is that az
each quota OF $4,000 men completes
the service period it shall be replaced
by additional enlistments 10 this fig
ure keeping the reserve" army at
4C0, 900 at all times.
Need 10000 Officers.
IT IS estimated that 10000 additional
officers will be needed to train the
I reserves. Beyond the amounts allow
able for an adequate ammunition sup
ply and for field artillery, most of the
Il proposed increased appropriation will
1 be used for the reserve branch OF the
4 army.
! Chairman Hay has agreed TO sup
port this plan. although he doubts that
the enlistments will be gratifying as
expected by the forthcoming bill
which will authorize an army of more
tnan 12O. 900 men. The figures are
subject to revision at a future con-
ference between the president and
Chairman Hay. all indications being
that the army. now Of $4,000 men,
will he increased TO between 100000
and 10000.
The administration will not submit
to congress any proposal for an army
from 200, 900 20 800 600 men, as was
suggested from various sources a short
time ago.
Here Is Army Program.
tt was learned from an authorita-
tive source Thursday that the army
program. as it now stands calls for
substantially the following:
First-The adjustment OF train
ing camps to teach the rudiments of
warfare TO the $4,000 men expected
annually TO enlist with the reserve.
Each citizen soldier will receive six
months actual training during three
years.
second-The addition to the aerial
equipment OF the army of at least 20
aC~oplanes Of the most modern type
and the discarding Of old machines
as soon as they cease TO be up to
date.
Third-The purchase of armored
motor vehicles, such as are now being
successfully used in the war.
Fourth-Large increases in the ar
tiUery branch OF the service, now la
mentally weak. This part of the APP
preparation will he unstinted, the exact
amount allowed 10 depend largely
upon the advice OF experts now en-
Eaged in determining what is needed.
Fifth-The laying in of vast sup
plies OF reserve ammunition.
Sixth-A standing army whose
strength will be n compromise be-
tween the figures OF the small army"
advocates who are opposed to any
increase and the big army forces
that desire an army of 100000 to $780,
.OOO men The addition of 10 infantry
regiments and 40 companies OF coast
artillery is now the plan of the adj
ministratiOn.
Hay Against Big standing Army.
substantial accord with the admins
tration program is evidence that there
will be no radical increase in the
standing army. Mr.. Hay has consist
emily opposed such legislation since
he became chairman of the military
affairs committee
His position has been that with an
areQuate navy and its isolated position
the United states did not require =
large army. and il is doubted that his
support could be enlisted for such
program or the original $250,OOO, zoe
estimate of Sec'y Garrison.
Practically all of the increase ap-
preparation is 20 be apportiOned
among four branches Of the service
the artillery. the ammunition supply.
the expense of the citizen reserve
and the added upkeep of bigger reg
Sec'y Garrison is said to estimato
the annual cost Of the citizen re-
serve" at $4,000. 900 Chairman Hays
figures are at least $5O,OOO,OOO.
Doubts Citizen Plan.
Representative Hay Is understood
to have told the president Thursday
that he believed il would be impossi-
hIe TO get 1873 coo men each year to
forsake their regular vocations and
engage in army training at small pay.
lie is willing, however, 10 give the
plan a trial.
The chairman OF the house COM
mittee is expected 10 insist that the
program shall include appropriation
for about a score OF armored automo-
biles which are now being used sue
Cessfully in Europe. Certain experts
Of the war department are said 20 be
still unconvinced that such vehicles
could be used successfully in this
country. but the bill Is likely 10 con-
tain an appropriation for them. There
Will be no attempt made in the forth
coming army bill 10 change the period
Of enlistment in the regular army.
SeC'y Garrison has previously ad-
VOcated enlistment shorter than the
four year period but the house COM
mittee has never taken favorably 20
the idea.
Although the subject had no bear
ing Of Thursdays conference regard