The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-28
Delay Will Be Costly War
Secretary Says in Letter
to Chairman Military Af-
fairs Board.
RETENTION $4,000
OFFICERS REQUESTED
Rebuilding Permanent Mill
tary Force and Liquidation
Surplus Property Among
Biggests Tasks.

!; Washington: Aug. 27.-Conditions
OF which the public has knowledge,
make it important that a thorough
state of efficiency in the American
army be reached with as little delay
as possible. Secretary Raker declared
| in letter today to Chairman Kahn of
the house military affairs committee.
which went exhaustively into the rea-
sons why he has asked congress for
authority to retain a maximum OF 49,
900 commissioned officers in the mill
tary establishment up to June 80. 1920.
Pointing out that the two major
tasks now facing the war department
are the complete rebuilding of a per-
manent military force" and the Hqui-
dation OF property valued at six and q
half billion dollars. Secretary Baker
said authority to retain a maximum OF
$4,000 officers was requested in or
der that line officers might be free to
devote their entire energy to army
reorganization.
As to the problem of liquidation, said
the secretary. he believed the reten-
tion of an adequate commissioned per-.
sonnel to supervise this work was in
the interest of national economy Re-
viewing the situation from a "busf-
ness standpoint" Mr.. Baker said the
cost of retaining in the service the
number OF officers to be assigned to
this work would lie about $S,08n for
each officer per annum when distrib-
uted by grades. These men, he said,
as apportioned among the various de-
partments of the army, would each
have charge of the maintenance and
disposition of properties OF an average
value ranging from $3.50. 900 to 81 ,0OO,-
900 in the various departments. 1t
would be impracticable. the secretary
wrote, to obtain either in or from
civilian life the required supervision
at anywhere near that average fig
ure-
Washington. Aug. 27.-Legislation
under which the war department could
expend $S.OO0.0O0 from funds already
approppa ated for the purchase of camp
sites ara the completion of the con-
struction now under way at the camps
was recommended to congress today
by Secretary Baker. The secretary
said this legislation was made neces-
sary because the last army appropria- !
tion ~ prohibited the department
from acquiring real estate.
or - 100000 Secretary Baker rec
that authority be given for |
the expenditure of $2,329.774 for the |
purchase of real estate and the con- |
struction of Camp Benning, Ca, upon |
which work was recently stopped cw-
ing to disapproval of the project by |
congress. An amendment to existing /
statutes was also recommended by /
which this camp would be used as an |
infantry school of arms in place of |
Fort sgi. Okla.
Expenditure of s1.17s,eoo for the
of Camp Bragg. N. c., to !
be used as a field artillery school was |
also recommended by Secretary Baker. |
as well as $1,S54,961 for the purchase |
Of real estate and the completion of /
Camp Knox, KY, which is also to be
used by the field artillery Included
in the recommendation was also ST. !
a97 900 for the acquisition of real
estate and construction of aviation |
fields and depots. bill for which is
now pending before the senate COM
mittee.