South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-26
ARMY'S STRENGTH
STILL UNCERTAIN
Congress Not Likely to Re-
SpOnd to War Department
Request.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW

WASHINGTON. y. G, Aug. 26.-i
II is by 10 means certain that
congress viii respond favorabiy 20
the recommendation OF the war de
partment that The permanent
strength OF the regular army be
Fixed az SIS. 600 men.
The tendency IN the legislative
body with respect 20 military affairs
is decidedly conservative This Is
particularly true OF the house OF
representatives. as was demonstrated
recently when the house refused 10
vote sufficient money 70 support the
army during the present fiscal year
and after the senate had increased
the appropriation forced COM
promise which still left some Of the
branches OF the army without fin
ancial support The conservative
tendency in the house is not politi-
cal ion character. IL affects pretty
much the entire membership OF the
body
MAY Abandon Training.
The inside talk in both senate and
house now at this time is that pro
vision will not be made for q per
manent army Of more than $4,000
men and aOCut the cloak rooms in
each Of the legislative branches
there is any amount OF talk to the
effect that II viii not be an easy
matter 90 provide in the permanent
establishment act for universal
military training. even OF the limit
cd kind proposed by the war de
for the reactionary spirit with re-
spect 10 military affairs he is in
formed that congress Is simply re-
fecting the sentiment OF the coun-
try. that the people do not want a
standing army OF $4,000 men or
even 500. 600 and that there is wide
spread opposition 10 enforced mill
tary training for youths
To is too osrly, OF course. 70 at
tempt 10 speak with fnality as 10
what congress will do with the war
departments recommendations. but
the outlook is not hopeful from the
standpoint Of those who favor large
standing armies. The senate is Just
opening up the subject through its
committee on military affairs and the
house through it's military commit
tee will begin hearings the first week
in September. There is a general
disposition IN both branches 70
proceed with the subject very deli
berately The war department is
anxious TO have the reorganization
bill disposed OF before the end OF
this calendar year. so that it may
have ample time 10 get the new or
ganization in shape before the be-
ginning OF the next fiscal year
Wait For League.
II is foreseen that several eIe-
rents may enter into the considera-
tion OF the departments recon-
mendation before either house acts.
Many Of the senators and repre-
sentatives desire to know more about
the demands that might be made
through the league OF nations be-
fore they finally make up their
minds as 20 how much OF a per
manent army the country should
have. The anti-militarists i2 both
houses or perhaps Il would be bet
ter 90 say the men who are opposed
TO any such permanent army as the
war department has proposed. are
making use OF .the observation Of
Lloyd George in London a few DAYS
ago that unless the major nations
reduce ornaments under the infiu-
ence OF the league OF nations the
league Will be a failure.
There is also a general disposition
i'm both houses not to reach a final
decision as 20 the policy that will
be pursued in framing the new legis-
The arrangement now is for the
lation Until Gen. Pershing is heard.
general 20 sail for home on Sept 1.
Both the senate and house military
committees expect 10 seek his ad-
vice as 10 permanent military
policy.