New-York tribune., 1921-01-11
Senator's Hotly
Assail Bakers
Big Army Plan
Secretary of Wars Policy
Of Raising U. S. Forces to
csc, 900 Men Is Hit in
Debate ON New Bisl
175,OOO Troops Favored
Cr, Will Save S4O,O 900, 600;
Lenroot Would Reduce
the Military to 10000

yxc~ rae Trsban6'S Wcshinoton Bureou
WASHINGTON, Jan 10.-In discuss
,no Senator News resolution to stop
.nlistments in the army until the force
l. reduced to 175,000 men. Senators to-
dav shsrply criticized the course Of
Secretary Baker in seeking to raise an
army Of 100000. Marked sentiment
Jas disclosed in favor of immediate
reduction to 175.0O0. Senator Lenroot,
of Wisconsin, offered an amendment to
the New resolution to discontinue en-
Astments until the level Of 10000 is
reached.
Owing to the fact that the nitrate
bill came up automatically for consid-
Grafton ct 2 o'clock, final action on the
New resolution was prevented. 1t
vent over until tomorrow, when indi-
cations are it will pass. Senator New
said his resolution would save s35 5,00O,-
900. to $40, 200, 900. The Lenroot amend
nent would save s12,5O000o more.
Senator's exnect the American troops
In Germany, numbering more than 15,-
600 men, to be returned to this country
soon after March 4. This was brought
out in the debate.
Senator New charged that the War
Department was persisting in an inten-
sve campaign for recruits, through ex-
vensive advertising and otherwise.
Senator Lenroot, criticizing the Secre-
tsrv of War for not observing the Will
f Congress, said:
ut is very plain that the Secretary of
War, as in so many cases, as IN the
case of Muscle Shoals, has no regard
for the spirit of Congress or to carry
;ne out the will of Congress, if it
technically gives him greater power"
Would Limit Army to 175,000
In calling up the resolution Senator
New explained that it's purpose was
to halt enlistments until, through ex
piration of terms of enlistment, the
army would be brought down to 175,0o0.
"The desire of the committee" said
he "is to cut down the public expense
and at the same time leave the coun-
ty in the possession of a military
force that will meet all reasonable re-
quirements.
He said a minority of the committee
wanted the force lowered to 175,00>.
1.-THE Secretary of War" procee fed
Senator New, has construed the maxi
mum limit of $4,000 as mandatory on
him, as he has proceeded by every
known means to enlist as many nren
as possible. Last Friday they got 1900
men. The rate of enlistment now is
st least 1000 men a day. A statement
of the size of the army last night
would show it to be about 237 900 or
23SOOo"
If enlistments were stopped, Senator
New said, the army would be brought
down to 175,0o0 men by the middle
Of September.
Questioned by Senator King, Senator
New said the resolution was not in
tended to reduce the number of officers
and that it was the purpose to preserve
the same skeleton organization as be-
fore
New Opposes Lenroot Amendment
Opposing the Lenroot amendment,
for force reduced to 10000, Senator
New said: $50 many of these men are
oeyend seas that l think it would be
inexpeeient to bring the army down
TO 10000 at this time"
de pointed out there are now $4,000
American troops in Germany, 1000 in
hawaii. $500 in Panama, 10000 in the
philippines, 1900 in Porto Rico an.
iaoO in China. The total is near;
4z,ovO troops abroad. In replying to
question OF Senator Lenroot, he said
ae thought the force in Germany would
ne returned early in the new Admins
tration.