New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-22
NEED 40 YEARS
FOR ARTILLERY
Militia Cannot Be Fully
Supplied Sooner Under
Pending Bill.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, June 21.-At the pace
prescribed in the pending army appro-
priaton bill just forty years will pass
before the militia authorized in the
Hay army reorganization bill will be
equipped with artillery. Representative
A. p. Gardner told the House to-day
It will require thirty-four years, work
ing at the same rate Of speed, before a
sufficient supply Of artillery ammuni-
ton is accumulated for the citizen sol
diers, Mr.. Gardner continued. The ap'
preparations in the bill are s3,0OO,OOO
for artillery for the guard and $1,000
900 for artillery ammunition.
when General Crozier, chief OF
ordnance. came before Chairman Hays
Committee on Military Affairs" Mr..
Gardner said. "he told the members
that over s65,OOOOOO for field guns
must be appropriated in the next four
years if the new national guard is 70
be equipped according TO the estimates
laid down in 1911 by the so-called
Greble board of officers. General
Crozier pointed out, however, that
twice this amount Of money would be
necessary in the next four years II the
recommendations Of the Treat board
are followed.
Must Follow Treat Board.
"Thc Treat board. so called after its
chairman. Colonel Treat, has recently
reported on the needs Of the Unlted
States Army in the matter Of artillery
The Treat board was appointed IN con-
sequence Of the changed conditions
arising out Of the European war. IN.
ouestionably Congress must IN the emu
follow the Judgment Of this latter
hoard rather than the judgment OF the
old hoard. which reported in 1911.
General Crozier asked for the mod
est sppropriation OF S1,600OOO for ma
chine guns for the national guard FOR
some reason or other, this item was
entirely omitted from the bill, but the
machine gun appropriation for the
regular army is far too small. IL IS
calculated on the basis OF five machine
,urs 70 n regiment. whereas the ar
Departmeut has now calculated on
twelve guns TO regiment.
There has been a lot OF talk be
cause this bill only provides for the
oayment OF $4,000 men Of the line, or
thereabouts. Inasmuch as we have
been fattered by reports 70 the erect
that the new army Legislation gives
ms force Of rather more than 2OO,OOO
mon. no Wonder that the fact that we
only appropriated money 10 pay about
balr Of that number has created a
GOOD deal Of adverse comment. Inc
EXCLAMATION is easy enough, ana "
doesn't rest altogether on the matter
Of slow enlistments. Most people, IN
gliblv chatting about the size OF the
new army provided by the Hay-C
berlain act. entirely overlook the sec
ond proviso in Section OF that act.
The proviso in question limits the
army 10 $4,000 enlisted men OF the
line except when war is threatening.
This "a an increase OF about I0.OOO
enlisted men Of the line over the pre-
vious limit OF our army.
Legal Number in Doubt.
But. mark the colored gentlemen
i'm the woodplel Section "a provides
that the increase in the officers and
men Of the regular army shall be
made in five annual instruments.
Strange as IL seems. the War Depart
ment is not in a position TO say ex-
actlv how many men could legally
compose our army during the next
two wears. wrote 10 the adJutsnt
geneial for specific information on
this point. His reply was somewhat
long. but the essential part OF It /
quote:
SHOULD IL be determined that the
organizations Of the line are 10 be main
tanned at their statutory minimum
strength. and IL the strength Of the
line as authorized BY executive order
prior 20 the passage o. the resolution
OF March IT "a used as base upon
which 10 estimate the increases pro
vided in the recent act. the strength
Of the line during the fiscal year end
ing June 30 1917. would be, approx
mately. $4,000. and during the fiscal
wear 1918 that strength would be. an
proximstely. l25,00O. These figures do
not include unassigned recruits, here