New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Harding Signs
Army Cut, but
Predicts DELAY
Summary Dismissal Unfair,
He Tells Congress; Fears
Possible Influence Upon
Enlistmen.s and Morale
May Seek Modification
Would Mean 100000 Men
Added to Those Seeking
Employment, Says Weeks

WASHINGTON, June 30-President
! Harding informed Congress to-day that
while he had signed the army appropri-
alton bill with its provision for re-
duction of the regular army to 10000
men by October / next, it might be
necessary to ask for modification of
the measure later to avoid embarrass-
ment to the Secretary of War.
The Executive declared in a special
message sent to both the Senate and
the House that summary dismissal from
the army of men who had enlisted for
seem to involve a reputation of a
moral obligation by the government
which would have it's effect upon the
morale of the army and possibly influ-
ence enlistments.
Notifications Not Revealed
The nature of the notifications
which might be asked for was not dis
closed, nor did the President explain
how 1T was proposed to meet the moral
obligation to the men and, at the same
time, carry out the direction of Con-
gress to reduce the force by some TO-.
600 men in the next three months. He
dld say, however, that every effort
Will be made to meet the requirement
OF the Congress at the earliest possible
day"
Secretary Weeks, in discussing the
bill to-day, said that if the War De
partment succeeded in meeting the
limitations imposed by Congress, some
$4,000 civilian employees of the army,
besides the 10000 enlisted men, would
be thrown oil the labor market to COM
pllcate the unemployment situation. He
added that the War Department still
hoped to be able to avoid the summary
dismissal of any enlisted men in reduc
ing the army and that for the present
no enlisted men would be DISCHARGED
against their wishes
In signing the bill President Har-
ding was understood to have followed a
course regarded by his advisers as the
only practicable one, in view of the in
slstence of both the House and Senate
that the army be reduced as proposed
IN the measure and the short time re
naming before the end of the fiscal
year.
Text of Presidents Message
The Presidents message to Congress
said:
81 am advising the Congress Of nv
approval of H. R, SOLO, bill making |
provision for the maintenance and sup
port of the United States Army for the !
hscal year ending June 30, 1922. | |
cannot resist calling to the attention |
of the Congress at this time the verv
great embarrassment in carving out |
its provision while dealing Justly with |
the enlisted forces Of the army so that |
later call for slight modification
may not be wholly without notice.
The bill necessitates very large
reduction in the enlisted personnel Of |
the army and it is doubted that this
reduction can be brought about without
The summary dismissal of many thou
sands OF men who have right to ex-
oect at the hands of the government
5he same moral obligations which the
government requires of them when
hey enlist for service.
in perfect good faith the Secretarv
IF War will proceed to reduce the army
% the figures contemplated by the Con
tress. The normal expiration of en-
lstments probably will approximate
'ne-half the reduction which the Con
sress has directed, and every effort
Will be made to meet the requirements
II the Congress at the earliest possible
lay.
Will Not Force DsmissaIs
Il would not feel justified in asking
he Secretary of War to enforce the
dismissal of men who have enlisted
or definite term of service There
seems to be moral obligation in
'olved, the violation of which would
'e demoralizing to the spirit of the
'rmy itself, and might prove very
erious encouragement when enlist
nents are desired in the future.
81 have thought | ought to say these
hlngs to the Congress COW because in
is earnest desire to reduce the army
personnel and limit army expenditures
he Congress has especially provided
hat no deficit shall be created. TIL.
secretary of War will seek to avoid
he creation of any deficit but if
probable deficit develops in a just pro-
edure to reduce our enlisted forces
will report to the Congress at the
arliest possible day and ask it to
elleve the embarrassment of the Sec
etary Of War and make such provi-
ion as will be necessary to deal Justly
Nth our enlisted men while attempt
ng to keep faith with the Congress
o the fullest possible degree"