The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-30
MISSION TO RUSSIA
USED WILSON FUND
Part Of $100,000,000 Spent
by Expedition in
Siberia.
SOME LOANED TO CzECHs
Baker Asks 81, III, 100000 to
Maintain Army Of Half
Million.
Special Despatch TO TIE Sun.


nent military policy of the United States
cannot be determined until the peace
treaty with Germany has been signed
and ratified and peace conditions have
been established. Secretary Baker told
the House Military Committee when he
appeared to-day to ask for s1,117. 600 900
for the War Department for the next
fiscal year.
Until that time comes." said Mr.
baker,. I'VE will be more or less at sea
ana any recommendation that I miRht
make would be subject to radical re-
vision"
Mr. Baker said ho believed the
strength of the army should be 500 900
men. according to HIS former plans for
the fiscal year 19ls-ls2O.
want 1t understood" he said, "that
THIS does not refer to any permanent
military policy. IL merely applies to the
coming hscal year During the first OF
Ihe.year we VIII have more than 500. 900
men and later less than 500. 900 men"
Gen. March, CHIEF or Stan. explained
later that this figure meant the average
army The department. he said, plans
TO keep i've divisions In France untn n
dennite peace settlement has been made
10000 Men Back This Month.
AN the other men," said Gen. March.
are being rushed back .ust as fast az
shipping facilities will permit. Al rec
ords Tor transoceanic transportation OF
troops will be broken In May. when we
expect to bring bach 10000 men. The
best we could do In getting men 10
France was 100000 men in single
month.
Should Il be necessary we could take
every American soldier out Of E,nrone nv
September 1. However. such Ia not
probable because II is unlikely inter
national conditions will permit"
Questions from the committee devel-
oped from Gen. March that the Siberian
expeditionary force WAC financed from
president Wilson's slo0,oOo,oOO war
fund.
The President" said Mr.. March.
turned over $4,000. 900 az one time and
another sum cannot exactly recall at
another. but we believe this money was
virtually lent to the Czecho-Sioyak Gov
eminent"
In explaining his request for such a
large amount. agreeing with what he
asked from Congress last winter, Sec
retaiy Baker said financial needs have
not changed.
Certain plans Of the Department" ne
said. that are believed necessary will
require comparatively large expenditures
Among them I might mention the plan
to purchase and complete the Dayton
Wright flying field and TO complete the
Langley Field as permanent station
for the Air Service"
Mr.. Baker said he favored n system
OF educational and vocational training
for all men in the army, which ne de-
sired to see become an institution OF
education" He has ordered the general
stan to develop the plan at once. The
general Idea has the Endorsement of Gen.
Pershing. the Secretary told the com
mittes, and would utilize universities,
technical schools and high schools where
soldiers would be sent for several months
under military discipline somewhat like
that OF the student army training corps.
"Our experience in France has taught
US that the whole army should be edu-
Gated" Secretary Baker said. I'VE
should give special attention TO the
vocational training army work de-
mands."
Answering questions as to whether
the plan tended toward universal mill
tsry service, Mr.. Baker answered in the
negative.
Millions Saved on Contracts.
Mr. Baker said the War Department
had saved millions in cancelled contracts.
He said the Department does not plan
20 bring back TO America bodies OF
American dead for several months. prob
ably until late In the fall. Brig-Gen.
Marlborough Churchill. chief OF the Mill
tsry Intelligence Department. said that
tracts were made between August /.
1918. and May 10, 1919.
"Of this number" he said. I'VE OBJ
tanned 1876 convictions and recovered
s329,lSS in Government property. Cases
Investigated In that time numbered
1907"
Gen. Churchill urged continuance OF
forty-one military attaches and ohserv-
ers during the next year. and pointed
out that important work is now being
done in connection with the Bolshevists
In Russia.
Brighten. Frank Hines, chief OF the
Transportation Service. speaking OF the
dispute with England over payment OF
transportation of American troops. said
Englands first bill was for 1852. o00. 900.
at the rate OF $3.50 a man. Objections re-
duced this rate to Ss1.75.
Il regaru TINS as reasonable ana salts
factory" said Gen. Hines. when you
consider that England lost twelve trans
ports in our service you can easily see
how heavy the cost is. one large Dutch
boat which was lost will cost England
about ,l2. 900. 900 to replace"
Gen. Hines said his department Is
asking s212,262.15S for water and rail
transportation, s166 900. 900 less than the
amount carried In the last bill.