New-York tribune., 1919-06-17
March Urges
100000 Army
Despite League
Continued from page I

eral scheme contemplated the establish
ment of squadrons here and in the in
sular possessions. Squadrons already
have been authorized for the Philip
pines. In answer to a question by
Senator Wadsworth the general said
airplanes were ready for service on the
Rio Grande.
"Could you get along with an army
on the basis Of 100000 men for the next
year!' he was asked.
II don't think the House Intended
that" replied General March. "I think
it had in mind that we could get along
on the amount of cash intended to pro-
vide for an army of 100000 men for
the year, the expectation being that
a permanent military establishment
would be provided before that time.
But in my opinion we will need money
for an average of 100000 men for this
year"
General March said there are 1856
officers and 47O,884 men in this coun-
try, of whom 235,60C are on duty. Dur
ing the Congressional recess he visit
ed all the camps and depots in the ef-
fort to speed up demobilization. At
some camps he found it has taken seven
to eight days to get a man out Of the
army, and he issued orders under
which this was reduced to forty-eight
hours. 1t had been found that the en-
ployment of civilians and field clerks
effected saving of about $800,000
month, as compared to the employment
of soldiers for this service. The civil
ians are expert clerks and did the work
faster, making it possible to deraob
the soldiers sooner.
Secretary Baker, in urging the need
for more men in the army than the
House had allowed, explained the mag
nitude Of the departments task in car
ing for the stores, buildings, machinery
and manufacturing plans which it has
on hand.
He said the expeditionary force in
France is being broken up as fast as
possible and the plan is that the per-
manent army of occupation in Ger
many will be handled from Antwerp or
Rotterdam as bases, instead of from
French ports on the Bay Of Biscay.
This plan is being adopted because it
will be easier and cheaper to use the
line of the Rhine as an approach than
to move material and men along the
French railroads from the French
ports
eve have a vast quantity of stores
and supplies in France" said Secre-
tary Baker "Their cost to US repre-
sents certainly $1,5oo0 100000, probably
more. The French government cannot
permit us to sell them in the general
market there, because it would de-
moralize the whole economic structure
of the country"
The Secretary declared that all rec
reational and educational work should
be entirely under the army and inde-
pendent of any private philanthropic
interest.
"The only way" he said, ain my opn-
ion, to maintain an army in peace times
is to make it an educational oppor-
tunity.
"Do you think it is possible to en-
list and maintain an army of 100000
by recruiting?" asked Senator Wads-
worth.
GAS easy as to secure an army of
100000, if you make it possible for the
men to get the educational advantages;
to give, say, half of their time to work
of education," replied the Secretary.
If the army reverted to 100000 men,
as it must under the law unless special
provision is made before July l, 1920,
General March said, the air service,
motor transport corps and other auxil-
iary services must be abolished.
Attention was called to the fact that
the House bill provided S15,OOO,O00 for
the air service, to which Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Colorado, as
serted eff it isn't scrapped it will be
under that appropriation"
Questioned by Senator New, of Indi-
ana, General Menoher, director Of the
air service, said he recently had Or
dered the purchase of 1850 new planes,
including a large number of single and
double seated pursuit planes.
Ho~1o CL~-. IT. n