New Britain herald., 1922-03-13
Also Reduces. Regular Personnel of Fighting Men To ll5,O0O With ll,0O0 Officers-Asks $27o,353,oSo.67
Half Million for Warfare
 Chemical Service - No New Forts-Objection to Keeping Troops in China.

Washington, March 13.-With pro- visions which would necessitate re- duction of the regular army to 115,- 900 enlisted men and eleven thousand officers. the army appropriation bill carrying $270,353,Oso.67 was reported today by the house appropriations committee.
 The amount recommended for the military and non- military activities of the war department during the com ing fiscal year is a reduction of $116,- 100000 from the total appropriated for the current year and $s7.p96, os6.- SC less than budget estimates.
 Troops In China
 As. drafted by a sub committee headed by Representative Anthony, republican, Kansas, the bill would re- uliire the return to the United States by next July of all troops stationed in China, G,5Oo men from Hawaii, about 2,000 men from the Panama Canal zone and all but 100 officers and men in the army of occupation on the Rhine
 No limitation is proposed on the number of men to be maintained fin the Philippines, the committees re- port stating however, that Secretary Weeks believes that under present conditions some reduction" can be made in the force there.
 The contemplated withdrawals, it was said would leave 5000 men in the Hawaiian islands and like number in the canal zone. The present actual strength of the army was given by the committee as about 13,00o officers and 132,00O men exclusive of 1000 Philippine police.
 Rivers And Harbors
 An appropriation of $27,635,260 is recommended for continuance of work on various river and harbor i'm provements, for which the chief of engineers requested $43,000,000; $12,- 430,000 for the air service against $15,O00,0o0 requested and $21,130,0o0 for the National Guard about $9,000,- GOO less than budget estimates.
 Chemical Warfare
 The committee recommended $500,- coo for the chemical warfare service, declaring that sum sufficient to pro- vide for a minimum amount of de- velopment work and training along lines compatible with present condi- tions" and for maintaining Edgewood arsenal in stand by condition. An ap- propriation of $2,750,000 is recom- mended for supplies and equipment of the reserve officers training corps and $1,S00,0O0 for civilian military training camps.
 The bill carries $7.740,O9O for the ordinance department to meet in ad dition to other expenses, the cost of maintaining a skeleton force at ar senals ito keep alive the knowledge of the method of manufacture"
 No New Facts
 The amount carried in the bill for seacoast Qualifications, the committee reported would not provide for any new projects but would go entirely for maintenance of existing fortifica- tions and for continuing construction of a limited number of seacoast guns.
 The total recommended for river and harbor improvements, about $15,- 100000 less than the amount sought by the chief of engineers, is carried as lump sum of projects on which as a lump sum and projects are not specified. None of the appropriation will go for new projects, however.
 Food Supply
 FoE the subsistence of the army, the committee recommended $16,- 55O,O0O appriximately $13,oo0,0o0 less than last years appropriation, the de- crease being brought about by a re- duction to thirty cents per ration.
 The subcommittee which spent three months in holding hearings and framing the bill. reported that the excessive cost of maintaining the reg ular army over pre-war expenditures" was found to be largely due to the expensive methods of its administra- ton.
 Tt seems to be the fixed policy of the general staff to station full di- visions in Hawaii and Panama" tho report said. Except in times of emergency it is not believed such policy is justified as it will cost as much to maintain these two divisions in Panama and Hawaii as oursentre regular army cost us in the years fol- lowing the Spanish war"
 Commenting on the cost of main- taining troops on the Rhine the com mittee calls attention to Germany's failure to pay the cost. The commit teel also declared that mo adequate reason has been shown for the nain- tenance of any troops in China