Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-07
w WadsWorth
Fights To
Save Army
Administration Forces Oppose
House Measure Which They
Say Means Utter Dis
aster to Nation.
Borah Pleads Economy
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha bee Leased Wire.

By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune-Omaha bee Leased Wire.
Washington, June 6.-Adninis-
tration forces launched drive in
\ 'e senate today to save the coun-
rry from return to the state OF
weakness and unpreparedness which
prevailed before the United States
entered the world war.
Senator Wadsworth OF New York,
chairman OF the senate military af-
fairs committee, backed by Secre-
tary of War Weeks. appealed to the
: senate to stand firm against the
army appropriation biu passed by
the house. utter disaster faces
the army if this bill becomes law.
he declared. He proceeded to an
alyze the house bill, revealing for
the first time how its provisions lit
orally would rip the army to shreds.
The house BILL" he said, has
never been properly understood by
the public. The press has never
accurately stated its provisions. 1t
is popularity supposed that it pro-
vides for an army of 10000 men.
Would Wreck Army.
".As a matter of fact, it calls for
the reduction OF the army to 10000
men by the end of the year. 1t would
require the discharge OF l05,00O men.
1t would mean utter disaster to the
army in the opinion of Secretary OF
War Weeks. He begs us not to do it.
He informs us that if the house bill
becomes a law, there won't be
combat unit in the United States big
enought or fit to take the field in an
emergency"
Senator Wadsworth explained that
the senate Bill, carrying appropria-
tons OF $535,0O0,000, only $l5,000,O0O
more than the house bill, would pre-
vent the army from going below
10000 men. The estimated strength
of the army on July. l, he stated,
would be 2l5,000 men. The reduc-
ton to 10000 men would not be
reached until about February IS,
1922. so that the average strength
of the army during the next fiscal
year would be about 10000 men.
He called attention to the fact that
the bill ! now before the senate is
actually $ll.000000 less than the
measure passed by both houses last
<March and pocket vetoed by Presi-
dent Wilson because it was too
small" He refuted the charge Of
extravaganza by showing that since
the republicans came into control OF
congress in 1919, they have cut ST.
300,000,00 from the army estimates
prepared by the Wilson administra-
ton.
Need Men on Pacific.
Senator Wadsworth declared
against any reduction of the gar
risons in Hawaii, Panama. Alaska
and other Pacific possessions. On
the contrary, he said. these gar
risors ought to be enlarged. For
this reason the senator stated. the
rcdpction of strength would fall en-
tirely upon forces now in continental
United States, leaving not more than
24.000 combat troops for service.
Senator Borah Of Idaho declared
that the necessity for economy was
SO great that nothing but savage
reduction of expenditures would
save the situation" and said that il
he had his way he would cut the
strength of the army to 100000 men.
He expressed the opinion that the
weakness OF the army in continental
United States would shortly be ini-
proved by the return of the troops
now in Germany. Debate on this
point, however, brought out the fact
that there is no certainty as to the
time OF the withd. avail of the troops
i'll Germany.
Senator Wadsworth reminded the
senate that the maintenance of the
army in Germany was costing the
United States nothing. All expenses
of the occupation are charged to
Germany under the terms of the
armistice, he explained. He furnished
figures showing that the number of
American troops now in Germany
= is $4,000. The expenses charged
against the German government to
date for the American occupation
total S278,000,000. Germany has
paid $37,0O00O0 of this amount.
Return Is Uncertain.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska,
democrat wanted to know about the
plans for bringing the troops back
from Germany.
"The committee does not know
what the president is going to do
said Senator Wadsworth. "Secre-
tary Weeks was asked about it and
he said he could not discuss it."
The troops must be brought back
as soon as the peace resolution is
adopted" said Senator Hitchcock.
"My impression is that the Knox
resolution reserves the right to
maintain troops in Germany" re-
Piled Senator Wadsworth.
Senator Borah sharply criticized
the failure of congress to adopt the
peace resolution. He called atten-
ton to the fact that the republican
party had pledged itself to restore
the status of peace with Germany
as soon as it came to power, and
declared that the delay in putting
through the Knox resolution has
become subject of ridicule abroad