New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11
Tries to Avoid Impression
That Anything Unusual
Is Going On
NO EXTRA FUNDS
IN EMERGENCY
But Military and Naval
Departments Complete
Estimates of Costs
Prom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Feb. 10.-The War De-
partment officials have completed esu-
mates of the various military projects
which may later engage the attention
of Congress. In the meantime lnstruc-
tons have been given TO guard all the
statistics that have been compiled IN
the different bureaus and at the war
College. 1t is desired to avoid giving
the IMPRESSION at home and abroad tnst
ANYTHING out OF the usual is in con-
temptation by the War Department
This policy is twofold in its object
II is apprehended that the internauoh-
al crisis will be seriously and adversely
affected by a knowledge that extraordi-
nary measures were being taken IN thiS
country TO increase the army and equip
a Volunteer force. Then, 1t is desired
IN save a lot of trouble at home WIN
SUNNY firms and manufacturers, VINO
have obtained the notion that tne WaI
and Navy departments are In the mar
ket for a vast quantity OF equipment
guns and ammunition.
The military and naval authorities
are in possession of no funds to pur-
chase supplies for conducting war
and nothing has been done in such d.
rection beyond preparing the estimates
of cost, as already stated IN tnese ais
patches. Nevertheless, the business
houses which hope for government con-
tracts have sent their representatives
to Washington and are deluging the de-
partments with offers OF service, re-
ouiring polite acknowledgement and the
announcement that nothing out OF the
usual is at present in prospect.
West Point Cadets Interested
The cadets at West Point are. pro-
foundly interested in the possibility
that the situation may result In their
graduation in advance of the usual date
in June. They have already sought to
bring this about, even to the extent
of having their parents and friends at
home appeal to members Of Congress to
overcome the objection of the Secre-
tary of War and the Chief of staff to
any such departure from the regular
programme.
Unless the services OF these young
men are urgently required by demands
for lieutenants il is not intended to
commission the West Pointers before
the June graduation. That will operate
to place ahead of them several hundred
candidates from the enlisted force, the
National Guard and civil life who have
Just completed the examination Tor APP
pointment. This has produced much
Dissatisfaction among the west Polnt
ers, whose activity in their own behalf
has incensed General Scott, chief or
staff. He has ordered that the cadets
cease their efforts to combat the pur-
nose of the War Department. The
West Pointers will not be graduated IN
advance of the regular time, therefore,
unless there is something more OF an
emergency than is now regarded as
probable.
Explanation of Army Bill
The action of the House Military
Committee in reducing the depart
mental estimates for the support OF
the army surprises many people, VINO
fail to realize that the army bill, as
reported from the committee this week,
was practically compiled before there
was any crisis to be considered.
The committee took the position that
Congress would be called upon to pro-
vide special means to meet anything
like an increased regular establishment,
the full recruitment of the National
army of 100000 men, and that the army
dill should not be framed on any other
basis than that of taking care OF the
service under normal conditions during
the fiscal year beginning on July l
next II was for this reason that the
bill contains nothing which is sugges-
tive Of war preparations.
The only outward manifestation of
military activity is that in connection
with the establishment of the officers
and enlisted reserve corps of the army.
Efforts are being made to have candi-
dates examined and commissioned for
service In time Of trouble in the vari-
Gus grades Of the line and staff.
700 officers Commissioned
About 700 officers have been commits
stoned SO far, exclusive Of the 2,400
medical reservists, who have been
brought over to the new branch from
the former medical reserve corps abol-
s.ha1 ~, tho national defence act of