New-York tribune., 1921-01-15
Recruiting Will Be Halted
Until Discharges Bring
About Required Size;
House Will Take Action
Wadsworth Fights
For l75,000 Force
PershingFavors2OO.O 600:
Wilson May Veto Bill
to Support Baker Stand
BY Carter Field

W VAChANN AON, Jan. l4.-Capitalfz-
ing the resentment against Secretary
OF War Baker for his big recruiting
drive at time when economy IL de-
sired, the little army men ran away
with the situation in the Senate to-day.
BY vote of 81 to % an amendment
by Senator Lenroot fixing 10000 en-
nsted men as the strength of the army
was adopted. Then the New resolu-
ton, as amended. directing that all re-
cruiting should be stopped until suf-
ficient men are discharged from the
army to bring the present strength of
228,O00 men down to 10000. was
passed without a roll call.
The resolution now goes to the
House, where the sentiment against
Secretary Baker for having enlisted
$4,000 odd men more than Congress-
appropriated for is just as strong as
in the Senate. Pending in the House
now is resolution introduced by Rep
resentative Hull, of Iowa, which was
similar to tho New resolution and
directed that recruiting should be
stopped until the army was reduced to
175,000-.the number appropriated by
Congress last session.
Chairman Wadsworth of the Militar,
Committee and Senator New. author Of
the resolution on the Senate side, will
do all they can to have the figure kept
at 175.000 men in the House, as they
believe that the cut made by the Sem
ate to-day was far too drastic.
What happened to-day, however. is
recognized as a perfectly logical after
math of the Baker recruiting drive,
and, as was pointed out in The Tribune
before the New resolution was even
resentment awakened would give the
little-army men control of the situa-
tion-was feared by the big-army men
at the time.
Baker Held Out for 100000
But Mr.. Baker refused to pay any
attention to the strong advice to stop
Wadsworth from the Senate and Rep
resentatve Dan R. Anthony, Of the
House Military Committee He said he
would not stop recruiting until he had
run the enlisted personnel up to
0,000 unless there should be action
by Congress. He even said he would
pay no attention to formal requests by
the military committees of the two
houses. So Congressional action was
regretfully started by the big-army
men, and to-day it cot out from their
control.
Party lines were broken in the
Il
four Democrats united to adopt the
amendment.
After the Lcnroot amendment was
adopted, the resolution was passed with
out a roll call, though Senator Wads
worth and Senator New both declared
they were strongly against cutting the
army to 10000.
What made the action of the Senate
the more striking was the fact that
earlier in the day General Pershnp
told the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee that in view Of disturbed world
conditions the army should not be re-
duced below 100000 At the same
time Secretary Baker told the COM
army, but the figure Of 175,OoO was
much preferable to 10000, which he
regarded as too low.
The stopping of enlistments, pro-
vidcd the House passes the measure
and it becomes law, will reduce the
army to 10000 in about year 1t
would require until September to re
duce it to 175.0o0. The saving to the
country annually through the reduction
to 10000, as compared with the pres
.ent strength Of about 100000, would
be in the region Of SlO0,000,OO0. and
might exceed that sum.
Ccx,o A-x.,, ny~.ny~ AL...A
Senator Wadsworth declared after
the amendment was adopted that "thc
wreck of the army is about completed >
retary Of War, it is deemed probable
the President will veto the resolution
if it passes at The 200 level.
After the Lcnroot amendment had
been adopted Senator Wadsworth pro
posed an amendment, which was
adopted, providing that no branch of
the army shall be reduced below 531z
per cent of authorized strength and
permitting enlistments in any branch
which Is below that strength up TO
1914 per cent Of authorized strength.
Senator Wadsworth explained that
10000 was 53h per cent Of tho au-
his purpose was to equalize the diff
ferent branches Of the service.
Secretary Baker and General Perish
ing were before the House committee
to recommend prompt action on tho
bill to provide for three new licuten-
ant generals, who presumably will be
Generals, Hunter Liggett, Robert L.
Bull1rd and Peyton c. March, though
they are not mentioned in the meas
uAc. The committee was informed
that unless there was Legislation be
IA
have retired in the rank of major gen
cral. the same as he had when he went
| to France.
The committee took no action on the
bill, but members said they looked for
favorable report and favorable &C.
! tion by Congress.