Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-23

annual expenses Of the army for the !
next fiscal year. The mix-up in the
situation has been caused, according
TO Secretary Baker, because Congress
in the last army appropriation bill
authorized an army of $4,000 men
but did not provide funds to maintain
ond pay that number, the appropria-
ton being limited to pay and sub
sistence for only 175.000. Mr.. Baker
claims that the bill not only author
ized him to recruit the army to 287,-
900 In number but he construed the
bill 90 that he claims It was manda-
tory on him to raise $4,000 troops.
Sharp issue has been taken with this
stand of Mr.. Baker by members of
the House Military Committee. who
claim that Mr.. Baker, under the
terms OF the BILL was actually au-
thorixed to recruit only the number
appropriated for, viz, 175,000 men.
Al q result Of Bakers enthusiasm
70 raise the ranks to nearly 100000
the War Department, it was reported
today. is faced with the fact that
after February there will be no funds
to pay either ofilcers or men unless
Congress agrees to quick passage Of
q deficiency bill.
Baker and General March, chief Of
staff of the army, have been "grilled"
by the House Committee over this
situation, and sharp clashes have re-
suited at some of the hearings be-
tween the Secretary, March, and
members Of the committee.
The thing that annoys members of
/ the committee is the fact that Mr..
Baker cannot give any explanation as
to why SO large an army, numbering
$4,000 men, is needed at this time.
Mr.. Baker had no explanation to such
questions. He merely commended that
the army appropriation bill directed
him to recruit the army up to the
limit authorised but not appropriated
for.
The clash shows that there is still
q lack Of teamwork between Con-
gress and tho War Department,
which has, in fact. existed ever since
Mr.. Baker has been secretary Of war,
and which was more violent during
the world war than at any other time
during the Baker regime. Mr.. Baker,
according to some members of Con-
gress, has simply "fiouted" the wishes
of House and Senate in regard to the
army recruiting. The secretary, how
ever, can hardly care anything for
these criticisms because it is now
less than three months when he will
leave office, on March 4, next.
Some members of Congress believe
and say so, that Baker is merely a
mannikin for the powerful General
Staff. and in effect is under the COM
plete mental domination of the gen.
! eral Of the staff. 1t is the generals,
the congressman believe, who have
rushed the recruiting program and
all Baker did was to weakly approve
whatever proposition was advanced
by the General Staff and sign a few
! official orders.
| Despite the row over the recruit
; ing situation the Adjutant General Of
the army, Maj. Gen. Peter c. Harris
is going ahead with the recruiting
campaign. In bis hands is the rais-
ing OF troops. On December Is, a.
telegram was sent out from the Ad-
5utant Generals office directing all
recruiting officers to Immediately
start an intensive recruiting drive
to fill up with recruits the Fifth Di-
vision. stationed at Camp Jackson,
Columbia. 8. c. Only recently an in
tensive recruiting drive filled up the
Second Division, at Capt. Travis, San
! Antonio, Tex.
There are not lacking advocates of
National defense, in and out of Con-
gress. who declare that Mr.. Baker
and the General Staff did exactly
right in rushing the recruiting cam
pa'gn to the limit because of the dis
turbcd condition of the world. These
men say nobody can tell at this crisis
IN the affairs of the world when a
large American army might be need
ed and needed quickly. Many vet
Grams and citizens believe that the
army should be kept around 400 900
men at all times. II is probable
however, that Congress will reduce
the appropriations SO that by next
year the army will be cut down to
l75,O00 men and kept at that number
Tor some years. The huge taxes and
cost Of the army is the thing that
VIII force o reduction.
regular armies of the principal ma
tons, existing at this time, are Great
Britain, 10000: Japan $4,000: italy
$4,000; Russia. $780, 900; GERMANY
10000: France 100000.
Files Cured In 9 to IA Days
n uIrSsg,sts refund money If PAZO ONT