The Washington herald., 1921-06-16
Weeks Appeals on Slash
In Enlisted Strength
Set by House.
ADMIRALS BATTLE
NAVAL REDUCTION
Secretary of War Claims
Proposed Decrease Due
To Cripple U. S.

The whole program Of national
defense on land and sea was thrown
into deadlock yesterday by the seem
i,gIv trreconcilable difference be-
tween the Senate and House.
Fearful that disastrous conse-
ouences may result from drastic re-
auctions in the army and navy or
dered by the House, the admins
tration for the first time took a
hand in the controversy
Secretary of War Weeks went be-
fore the Senate and House conferees
on the army bill and pleaded for the
Senate measure, fixing the minimum
strength of the army at lSo'ooo
men. On uenaIf of the navy Al
mirals Coontz and Washington ap-
neared before the conferees on the
navy bill in an effort to ward on
the big cut proposed by the House
in the naval enlisted strength.
Fears for Result.
Although the Secretary of War
has been known for some time TO
be opposed to the army reduction
ordered by the House, he took occa-
sion Yesterday to emphasize with
new viEor the ruinous effects that
would follow such curtailment. He
told the conferees that he would be
unwilling to accept the responsible
ity for what might happen to the
army il the provisions of the Dill
were retained, compelling reduction
to 10000 in the next year.
The conferees thereupon broke up
in a disa greement over the question
of the size of the army and decided
to report back to their respective
houses for further Instructions. The
question will come up first in the
House, and IL the House declines to
yield. the dispute will be brought
to a showdown in the Senate.
The whole controversy revolves
around the appropriation for pay OF
enlisted men, which automaticall
fixes the size Of the army, The ap-
preparation for this purpose in the
House bill is S72.0OO, 900. while in
the Senate bill il is sS1, ,OO0, 900. Sec
retary Weeks explained to the con-
ferees that the House bill would ne
cessitate cutting the size OF the
army to 10000 men.
Allows More Men.
The appropriation in the Senate
bill, it is estimated, will prevent
the strength of the army from fall
ing below 10000 men.
The House conferees proposed a
compromise yesterday under the
terms of which they would agree
TO an army of 10000 men, provided
a ha FRl l.,
the next three months. Secretary
Weeks pointed out that the present
strength Of the army is about 22O.-
900, so that the compromise pro-
Posal would require the discharge
OF not less than 10000 men before
october l. Inasmuch as the normal
shrinkage in the size of the army
through expiration of terms of en-
listments and applications for dis
charge would be only about 90 600
men. the Secretary explained that
II would be necessary to 20 into the
ranks and arbitrarily throw so 900
men out OF the army against their
will and in utter disregard of their
enlistment contracts.
Amount Now Smaller.
Aside from the approprIation for
enlisted pay the conferees were in
accord on all items. Including the
senate appropriation for enlisted
pay the total amount carried in the
oill Is SS30.OOO.OOO, or $4,000, 600 less
man 1t carried last March. when
Fesldent Wilson pocket-vetoed il
because it was too small.
me disagreement between the
Two houses over the navy are even
more acute The ConfereaS baya
held numerous sessions and ba,,o
falIed TO reach an agreement On an,
Oh the important differences. The
dIHerence. between the two bills is
approximately 800, ,OOO, 900. The
principal bone of contention is the
strength Of enlisted personnel The
iouse mas provided for 100. 900 men.
| oo1 @ Ie senate provided for 12O.-
10000 men are necessary 70 nc
erly man the vessels at So.