Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-01-18
SWINGS
BEHIND $4,000
ARMY STRENGTH
Sets Aside Decision Of
Week Ago Without
Record Vote.
Action Taken Against
Recommendations Of
Baker and Pershing.

Washington, Jan. 17.-Con-
gress voted Monday to limit the
size Of the regular army to
175,00O enlisted men. The
senate, Al to 43, set aside it's
decision of last week to reduce
the army to 100000 men and
then without a record vote,
adopted the original joint reso-
luton Of Senator New, Repub-
lican, of Indiana, directing the
secretary of war to stop recruit
ing until the army is cut to
175,00O men.
The house. 10 minutes later, adopted
joint resolution sponsored by Chair
man Kahn of its military affairs com
mittee also directing the secretary Of
war to cease enlistments until there are
not more than 175,OOO enlisted men in
the regular establishment The house
vote was 2S5 to 4. only Representatives
Bee. Texas: Blackmon, Alabama, and
Cramton, Michigan, Republican, stand
ing out against the reduction.
Several Change About.
The action of the two houses was
taken against the recommendations of
war department heads and General
Pershing. Secretary Baker. in appear
ing before the senate military affairs
committee. advised against an army of
less than 10000 men after the pres
ent en-. necessity of economy had been re-
leved.' General Pershing told the
same committee that an army of 200
wv men constituted safety margin.
The vote in the senate showed that
several senators who last week went on
record as favoring an army of 100. 600
had changed about. placing their sun
port behind the 175,OOO figure. 10
reason for the change was announced
but some senators said privately that
they believed President Wilson would
sign resolution placing the future
army at 175,OOO men but would not an
prove smaller number
Island Of Yap Up
referring to a suggestion by Sena-
tor Phelan that disposition of the Is
land of Yap with its cable communica-
cations was delicate problem remain
ing for adjustment. Senator Williams
declared that it was not question
which would involve America in war.
Three fourths of the senators don't
know where Yap is" Senator Williams
said, yet we're going to yap for
bigger army and zap against the Jap
ense and yap against an army Of 15O,-
co.,
Called up unexpectedly. the Kahn
resolution in the house provoked con-
siderable partisan debate in which
Republicans charged Secretary Baker
has violated the will of congress in
running the total army strength above
the figure for which appropriations
had been made. There was little op-
position to the reduction, however,
when put to vote.
Sharp Verbal Cash.
Declaring that members generally |
we're for the resolution, Representa- |
tive Garrett, Democrat. of Tennessee. |
insisted he could not permit criticism
of the secretary Of war to 60 un- |
Republicans of congress have |
reached the point where they are will !,
ng to eat their words" said Mr.. Gar
-ett. ''They voted against motion
% recommit the army bill for the
express purpose Of limiting the fight
ng total to $4,000. There was no
wonder Mr. Baker considered the Ian
.uage mandatory when he saw that
he house had insisted upon a large,
'orce."
The house debate also brought a
sharp verbal clash between Chairman
Kahn and Representative Hayden,
Democrat, of Arizona. when the latter
wanted to know if the chairman had
'bandoned his plan for universal mill
ary training.