Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-18
CONGRESS VOTES
TO CUT MILITARY
FORCES TO 175,000
Both Houses Adopt Reso-
lutiOns to Reduce Stand
ing Army.
WILL LOWER THE PRESENT
STRENGTH IN 16 MONTHS
Borah Argues Against Large
Pcace-Time Estab-
lishmcnt.
JAP WAR CLOUD SECUTED
John Sharp Williams Says Nippon
Hasn't Nerve TO Fight
United States.
WILL LOWER THE PRESENT
STRENGTH IN 16 MONTHS
JAP WAR CLOUD SECUTED
John Sharp Williams Says Nippon
Hasn't Nerve to Fight
United States.
nl joins GLEISSNER,
United News Stan Correspondent I

WASHINGTON. Jan. i7.--Enlist-
m"uts in tho regular army VIII stop
pnti' il has been reduced in strength
TO l7j.0OO men, under terms or roso!u-
lions adopted ,oda% ~ both the
senate and the House.
rho army now has 30. 900 men. AID
u i figured the. reduction VIII be ac
gomplishcd gradually through dis
charges in approximately taiNtcen
months
Tn" Senate debated iong and sharp
ly before 1t decided to reverse It's
previous action III ordering "a cut 10
10000 Senator'S demonstrated lack
ot sympathy wIth the argument that
4 strU'G ARM IS needed 20 preserve
7tornal peace. secuted the idea that
foreign conflict is ike!y. and cvinced
tricndincse TO vari3ua efforts toward
universal limitation OF armaincnts.
'rh" Scnntcs vote Was 80 10 81 More
( indicative ot the hostility OF Congress
10 large military establishments wUs
he vote ~ tho House on the rcsoIu-
'.on %: Representative Julius Kahn.
~ California 2kJ 70 4 Frequent and
bitter cr.t!elsm ~ the War Depart
mrn, WAS heard in both chambers.
Senator'S who changed their votes cx
pla.n"d thut they did 80 because they
rad been Informed prcsilcn, Wilson
would veto the resolution for 10000
men,
Tho President. it was stated. would
act 10 support Secretary OF War Bak-
.r and General rcrshin;. who had
to'd the Military Arairs CcmmIt,c"
10000 was tho smollest figures com
patiblc with safety and good prac-
l.ce
.so,D00 Provided For.
rhr army reorganization bill. un-
G"r which BAKER has been Increasing
thc army. provided for 2so.oOo men.
1t was cla!med. however. that funds
wcr" appropriated for hut $4,000.
and that there Was an Understanding
The army Vas not 10 be larger than
THIS
When Secretary Isakcr. replying to
examination OF committees card the
law made 1t mandatory ior him to re-
cruit 20 the strength stipulated. the
movcmcu; TO order cnlistmcuts stop
ped was Immediately put under way.
Senator Ihcian. who started the de- !
bate In the Senate by moving for re-
consideration OF the resolution To cut
the army 10 iio.000. argued that a
large army was needed on account Of !
Japan That nation. he said. has no
real friendship for this country. al
though diplomaticaliy on good terms.
He said danger To the United States
likewise arises from Mexico. which Is |
constantly cnact!nE laws which are
prcjudicial to American interests
Senator Rorah ridculcd the idea
that l75.OO0 men We're needed for po-
lice duty. lie declared cmphaticalIy
that II would be hcttcr 20 take the
s20,000.00o that would be saved by
keeping the army at $50, 900 men. aad
use II in building hospitals for vic
Tins of the war.
EHVOrs Small Army.
II cannot favor an army OF / T5. 600 on
the grounds il is needed TO preserve
peace" said Borah. III We were pre-
pairing for war with other nations.
] would accept the views OF General
Pe-shing ana Secretary Baker.
"But layman is entitled to his
opinion when the other reason is
given. We do not need such Il big
army and its presence is calculated
to produce discomfort. rather than
allay II. 1t is true there is dscon-
tent everywhere. but an army Is !
powcrlcss to cope with the conditions
that give rise to It,"
Borah said one officer had in. I,
formed him that opposition TO re-
duction to 10000 arose from tho
fact that it would Interfere with the
official organization. lie told OF one
captain commanding six men. May
be II the army We're reduced toi
10000, he'd only have four" the |
Senator observed. "It looks as If |
We were called on to keep large
number Of men 10 give the army or |
sanization something TO do"
Give II 10 Hospitals.
Borah said the House committee
had decided TO give $4,000 900 for
building hospitals for veterans, when |
s30.000.O00 is urgently needed. Lets
spend the money for the victims of !
the war" he said. "Mcn are dying
for want OF care. Men with mental
diseases are wandering the streets |
Men with tuberculosis are dropping
dead because th~y can't get treat
mcnt."
Senator's overman and Wolcott in
Continued on Second Pagc.5