Evening journal., 1920-02-12
Miller Defends
ADEQUATE ARMY
Former Congressman Says
Attack on Reorganization
Bill Isn't Justified
COST FAR UNDER
MONDELL'S ESTIMATE

Former Congressman Thomas w.
Miller stopped in Wilmington for few
hours yesterday on the way 20 New
York from indianapolis, where he had
been attending The meeting OF the
American Legion Executive Committee
and The meeting Of as State represen-
tatives OF the Legion on the military
policy Mr. Miller is chairman OF the
National Legislative Committee OF the
Legion.
Regarding Congressman Mondells al
tack on the expense OF compulsory MIL
itsry training, Mr.. Miller made The fol-
lowing statement.
,"ln n speech in the House Of Repre-
senlaiives on March 21 Mr.. Mondell
stated that the system OF universal mil
liary training provided in the senate
BIN viii cost one billion dollars per
annum This was IN addition 90 the
cost of The Regular Army which ne es-
iimaled 10 be srOO 900 600
"Thp fact Is that im response 10 a
request from Senator WadswOrt'l, the
War Department has prepared esti-
mates covering the cost Of the military
establishment proposed In the senate
bill. According 10 these estimates. tho
entire military establishment including
ihe Regular Army with an necessary
over head. the system OF universal
inlining. and the maintenance Of the
Nalonal Guard, will cost less than Mr..
Mondell's estimate as 20 the cost of
military training alone Mr. Mondelrs
! statement th7t the Regular Army alone
as proposed in the Senate bill viii cost
sC00OU0O0 per annum, is no. substan-
slated by The War Departments osii-
mates.
Although these estimates are made
with crest conservatism and with full
allowance for The pr sent scale Of prices
they place the cost of The Regular Army
In 1921 at s5q3 600 600. and at s399m0.-
200 In 1926. The decreass IS due 90 a
provision OF the bill which prescrib :
/ a progressive annual reduction of The
negt'ar Army from 2S0,0O IN 1921 60
2i0c01 IN 1926 Under this feature OF
the bin The cost OF military training as
70 develops is offs TO large extent
by "a corresponding reduction In int
outlay for maln'a'n ming The regular o.
] professional establishment
"NIr NIondell also states that it wii
cost 40 least s300.OO0O0 % prepare The
necessary csmps FOR the system oi
training There Is no foundation fol
this statement, as shelter now available
Is more than sullcl-nt 20 provide foi
the young men under training FOR th'
next five or six years. The War De
lpartment estimates include The neces.
! sary allowances for the repair anC
maintenance or the necessary plant. Il
Is true that in due time an allowance
for ale gradual replacement or tenn
parary construction must be provide
but this viii not be a necessity 10
| five or six years. It Is estimated TIM
about 0lO0OO young men viii bt
trained annually after the system Is II
operation. As there are TO be two train
Ing periods. it is not 'ikly that more
than 10000 will be under training al
anv one time Some OF these will re-
ceive their training in coast defens.
forts. others IN. National Guard armorie;
and others In military posts not re-
cuIred for regular troops. The re
mainder will nnd emple room in th'
! various training camps and canion-
ments constructed during The war.
But perhaps the greatest absurdity
IN Mr.. Mondell's statement lies in ms
: assertion that The training alone VIII
cost s7OOO00OOO per annum. or more
than $1,000 dollars for each young mar
trained. The Wadsworth bill proposes
only four months training and, accord
ing 10 the War Department estimates
which include an excessive allowance
for equipment. this will cost only sSo'
per man trained.
Instead OF the one billion dollars ioI
training alone and SG0O,OOO000 for th'
regular army. making total Of si,0O1'
100000 as stated by Mr.. Mondel. th'
official estimates made OF the senate
lbnl show that the cost OF both systems
would not be more at the outside thar
s6i5. 5.OOO.O 900. which the senate commit
ice believes TO be over stated and est
mates that the average cost Tor DolI
systems in the next five years woul'
be s6i6.0OOOOO per annum. II is be
llieyed further that by q slight parln.
down in the numbers Of all branches
; Of The service to be trained without de
creasing markedly the efficiency AM
suu preserving the principles advocated
Inv the legion for a sound military
policy. This could be further reduced
10 approximately s0OO0O,OOO per an