New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-15
100000 Soldiers Thought
Too Many-Navy Plans
to Go Through.
FIGURES TO TOTAL,
NEAR 81, ,240, 100000
Estimates of Government Ex.
penditures Surpass All Rec.
ords for Time of Peace.
From Tho Tribune Bureau 7


Washington, Oct l4.-Presiden. Wn-
son. in letting it become known to-day
that he had approved Secretary Garri-
sons plans for the reorganization Of
the army, making the estimates ap-
proximately sls2, ,O0O,O 900 for this year,
fired the first gun in what promises to
be one Of the biggest fights of the com
ing Congress.
The estimates for the navy, il Is de-
clared by members Of Congress from
all parts OF the country who have been
in Washington or communicated with
friends here. will be passed with little
opposition and few reductions. But the
army is another matter. There the
great fight OF the pacihcists will be
made. and the little army men believe
they will have the support Of the great
body of public opinion.
The approval Of tho army estimates
pretty definitely fixes the defence bud
get at near s450, 10000, 900, as was stated
in The Tribune this morning. The Navy
Department wants at least $4,000, 900,
and the tendency there in the last few
days has been to increase rather than
cut the figures.
There is an understanding, however,
that between the two departments
there must be enough pairing to bring
the total to about S40O,OOO,OOO. To this
must be added the s5O,OOO,OO0 Secre-
tary McAdoo wants for his merchant
marine plan, which it is intended to at
tach to the defence programme under
the name Of naval auxiliaries.'
Biggest Peace Budget.
The largest estimates of government
expenditures ever submitted to See
retary of the Treasury of the United
States in time of peace will be pre-
sented for the next fiscal year to-mor-
row. as required by law, for discussion
BY committees of Congress in advance
Of the regular session. They will be
examined in detail by President VIII
son and his Cabinet next week. IL "a
probable the expenditures will total
about s1,240000, 900.
Although no estimate OF receipts for
the fiscal year beginning July /, 1916,
In which the increased expenditures
will take effect, has been made by Sec
retary McAdoo, officials now are con-
vinced they cannot count upon more
tnan s750000.000 for the twelve
months, and some believe the total IN
come will not 20 over S7OO,0O0,oOO.
Details Of the plans TO upbuild the
army have been closely kept. but 1t IS
understood that Mr.. Garrison Will
recommend that the standing army be
increased from $1,000 TO 10000 men,
with the organization 40 skeletonized
that il can be almost doubled in lew
days by drawing from reserve. Ihe
building up of this reserve by en-
couraging short term enllstments, with
n provision that ex-soldiers shall pc
available for emergencies for several
wears after discharge, is another fea'-
ure OF his plans. To fill out the nrs'
line to the 100000 which, II is calcu-
lated by experts, will be needed WITHIN
few days Of any outbreak OF war ne
plans a national militia 20 replace
iergely the present state militia, and TO
be directly under army control as TO
equipment, duties, discipline and tram
ing.
Further details were learned to-day
as TO the navy programme. The Cen
cral Board has completed its report.
II abandons entirely the long cher
ished plan OF forty-eight capital ships
in 1919. which would involve starting
ten such vessels this year, and bases
its new recommendations on a pro-
qramme 70 be completed in l922-that
is. a fvc-year building scheme; BY
that time. il is understood. it is hoped
70 incrase the first line ships, the
dreadnoughts and battle cruisers. by
almost twenty.
or the ships now in commission and
authorized there will be seventeen
dreadnoughts of the first line on June
30 1922. together with thirteen pre-.
dreadnoughts OF the second line and
nine superannuated -dreadno ughts.
which will be relegated TO the third
line of defence-a total of thirty-nine
ships. The General Board, however,
leaves the second and third line ships
largely out OF its calculations. With
an adequate first line, II is believed.
the reserve force will take care of it
self from year 10 year as ships are
relegated 20 the rear on account OF
age. -,
Instead Of recommending the build
ing of a fixed number OF ships every
wear during the five year period the
Navy Department has decided TO rec
ommend a sliding programme, author
izing G. diminishing scale OF construc-
tion. II is likely that six capital ships
will be asked for the first year, four
or five the next and so on until nor
NAL rate Of two or three battleships
is reached. The entire number that
are 70 be ready In 1922. of course.
must be authorized by 1919. as three
wears are necessary for building sueb
ships.