Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-03
HUGE SUM REQUIRED
FOR army AND NAVY
More Than Two and a Half
Billions Above Current
Appropriations.
STRICTLY MILITARY NEEDS

A war budget of more than eleven
billion dollars to pay Army and Navy
costs during the fiscal year 1919 faced
Congress today when the governments
estimates were presented. The sum
represents only the strictly military
expenses that can be estimated SO
far in advance. and is more than two
and half billions larger than SIM
liar appropriations made for the year
1917-191s. So far as the estimates
show. it provides only for raising and
maintaining an army of 100000 men
and carrying out naval and coast forti-
fcation increase projects already au-
thorized.
Total of se,e15, $50, $50 for Army.
The chief item in the budget is for
the military establishment of the Army,
to cost s6.615. 936.553. an increase OF
81 365 ,90I, 600 over the total of Army
appropriations made at the last ses-
sion. The only means of determining
the estimate of 81. 500. 933 .676 for pay.
This is s159.294.558 greater than ap-
propriations, obtained last session Tor
the pay of $1,000 officers and 1.20S,30O
enlisted men of the line, and 39S,oou
enlisted men of the various auxiliary
corps. The estimates call for stan Of
ficers as follows: General staff. 34l;
adjutant generals department, ISl
inspector general, GAG: engineers. 400;
ordnance. 1000; Quartermaster. $500;
medical, $4,000; Judge advocate gem
eral. 800: Signal Corps dncluding AVA
tion). 1871.
with these large staff increases and
foreign service pay increases totaling
nearly sS0.000.00O also estimated Tor,
it apears clear that the total increase
in the pay item of $159.294.55 does not
cover any material extension OF the
original program of an Army OF w.
100000 men.
Fortincations estimates take second
place with a total of $3.332.445.125, or
an increase of 1.155.102.s74 over APP
propriations obtained last year. The
Navy is third. with total estimates OF
S1.039. S60,502, a decrease OF $b52.s71,-
include. however. new ships that Will
be asked for whenever building faciIi-
ties are available.
War Department Items.
Striking items in Secretary Bakers
estimates are $5.11s.o1s for additional
civil employees at the War Department;
81, 000, 900 for the military Information
section of the general stan. doubling
the present appropriation: $1,1SS. 907 sos
for the Signal Corps. which is $685., =
64S in excess of the existing appropria-
ton, including the special 100000 900
aviation measure: .224,335,0o0 for
Army transportation and supplies. an
increase of S324.0o0.0o0, mostly for
clothing and camp equipment; $zs.-
1884 for the purchase OF cavalry
and artillery horses, decrease Of $751;
5000 and showing restrictions placed
upons use of animals for the Army in
Frame due to transportation dimcul-
ties:l $157.111.ss4. for the medical de-
new motor ambulances and 11,000.0 900
for medical and hospital supplies. also
$24, 0O0, 900 for Veterinarian supplies, the
Total being ans increase of $26,331 ,Ss4
|$435.D00,o 900 for engineer equipment for
troops, which. includes the gas and
fame devices, star rockets, hand gre
nades and signal lights Of all kinds;
$S92, e00. 900 for engineer operations IN
the field, an increase Of $S00.0o0.o
and covering bridge. railway and road
building and operating equipment;
$3.50, 900 900 for ammunition. an increase
Of $175, 000, 900; $s3.40o.000 for ordnance
repairs. which covers the expenses OF
operating the great base arsenal IN
machine guns and $7S,650.0o0 for ar
mored cars A new item Ia $4.eoo.o 900 for
arms and ammunition for the Home
Guard and $s,o1s.00o Is asked to con-
duct civilian training camps.
For the Military Academy a total OF
$5,7l3.254 is sought, some 100000 be-
ing for expenditure on buildings and
grounds.