Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-05
DEFENSE BILL IS
NEARLY A BILLION
Congress Asked for Eight Hun
dred Millions for Strength
ening Army and Navy.
CALL FOR MORE LATER ON

Washington, D. C, Dee. 4.-Esti-
mates for maintaining and strength
ching the army and navy during the
fiscal year 1918 indicate that congress
will be asked this winter to provide
about $S0o000,0 900 for that purpose.
The total of estimates already sub
mitted and made public today when
congress convened is $757, 584, $50 to
cover the military activities of both
departments Statements made by
navy officials to the house naval COM
mittee, now considering that bill, have
foreshadowed, however, large supple
mentary estimates to be submitted
later, and similar situation exists at
the War department.
The preliminary estimate for the
army is $373,074,565, an increase Of
about $70,000,000 over the amount ap-
propriated for 1917. The navy total
Of $7o,l5l,70l is an increase OF $780,
45l,l46 over 1917 figures. Panama
canal Notifications will take $685.
800, an increase of about 100000.
More than $l0,000,000 of the army
increase will go into the payment Of
regulars, national guardsmen and
members OF the reserve. A total of
$97 ,o74,995 is sought under the pay
item and the Estimates show that the
number provided for under this sec
ton is 258,5o4. OF that total-94,27o
would be in the regular service and
l64,3l5 in the National Guard.
Provision is also made for the pay
ment of $4,000 members of the regular
enlisted reserve and for full rate pay
ment of these men for fifteen days
field training during the year. The
provision for payment of reserve Off
GERS is $3,5ls,303 and that for pay
ing National Guard officers, 49,
3o6,940.
Two Million for Aviation.
Another 100000 of the increase
will go to the aviation section, which
submits estimates for the expendi-
turc during 1918 of 100000 on new
aefoplanes and 81 100000 for balloons.
A separate item submitted, it is stat
ed, at the request Of the Navy de-
partment in the Panama canal esti-
mates, is $250,000 for the establish
ment of an aviation station in the
zone.
For the protection of the canal It
is shown that $780000 is to be ex-
pended for armored cars and locomo-
tives, searchlights and other equip
ment for the mobile troops which
army officials have declared must be
ready to repel an attack by land.
In round figures an additional $13,-
100000 will be spent for the training
and equipment OF the National Guard
and $10,O00,00O more than the 1917 APP
preparations for reserve stores of am
munitioh, guns, rifles and field artil-
lery. A million additional is asked
for armored motor cars, 81, 100000 ad-
ditional for civilian training camps
and $5,O00000 in new items for the
reserve officers training corps.
Coast Defenses. -.
Nnder the head Of coast defenses
| $45,628000 is asked with which to
purchase guns OF all types.
Tbelincrease in the general item OF
Notifications and other works of de-
Tense for 1918 totals more than $780,
100000 over last year.
TO continue ships already building
kor authorized the department seeks
$1l8,946,l55, and for ships to be au=
thorized this year, $SS, 100000. 1T has
beenr shown during the house naval
committees hearings, however, that
the latter figure is only rough esti-
mate and probably will be increased
4 mapy millions even if the building
| program recommended is not ex-
| ceeded., With 40,000-ton battleships
in prospect, while. the figures are
based on the 32,000-ton type last au>
thorized, it is virtually certain that an
increase OF $2S,0Q0,000 will be neces-
sary before the program can be car
ried out.
The estimates make no mention Of
several ambitious projects for navy
yard development which are under
contemplation and will not be laid
before congress, probably. until the