The Washington herald., 1922-03-14
House Committee Would
Reduce Yanks on
Rhine to 500.
ASKS DISCHARGE
OF 1000 OFFICERS
Aims to Bring Home $500
From Hawaii and 1000
From Panama.

bill, the House Appropriations Com
mittee has opened the way for a
dispute with the wa- Department
and perhaps with the President.
The strength OF the army. under
terms OF the bill, is reduced to u.s.
900, a figure $4,000 below the
minimum which army officers said
was essential to maintain an ef-
ficient army and an effective sys-
tenn of national defense
The bill as reported to the House
yesterday allows S7S,920 u cover
buildings and grounds in and
around Washington. This represents
reduction from S202.jl0.
For improvements IN the execu-
tive departments $1.DO0 was al
lowed; for maintenance of WXsn.
ington Monument. $17,320; a reduc-
ton from last year OF $1,000; Lin
coin Memorial, SIl.O09; reflecting
pool, West Potomac Park, $4,000;
reduced from S25O,O0O.
\ reduction of more than s12.0
was made by the House ComrliItee
in the item for payment CT salaries
in the Secretary of va: S office. the
allowance of s226.SS0 having been
reduced to S2I4.94O.
The committee allowed the Air
Service S12.431. 900 and the National
Guard s2l.130.3OO. Soldier hones
were provided for at but slight saw
ing on the estimates.
In addition. the committee re-
duCed the number of officers to
1000, 1000 under the number
asked by the War Department.
Cuts Estimates Sss,7ss.9OO.
For purely military expenditures
the bill CARRIES s224,722.sOs. which
IS sS6,79s,9Oe less than the depart
ment requested. and $119.675,s3s
lcss than the sum appropriated for
The current year.
Aside from this, the House COM
mittee proposes to bring home
troops from China, where they
have been stationed since 1900, limit
the possibility of maintaining more
than 500 men on the Rhine. and re-
duce the forces maintained in the
philippines. Hawaii and other is
lands.
This feature is a departure that
is expected to arouse strongest op-
position in executive quarters.
Heretofore the determination of the
size of the various forces has been
considered a matter for the deter
mination of the President as Com
r1andeE-in-chief. on tho advice of
the military experts.
Plan to Reduee Garrisons.
of the present enlisted force,
approximately $4,000 are stationed
outside the continental limits of
the United States" said the COM
mittee's report. The garrisons in
the Hawaiian Islands and in the
Canal Zone are believed to be un-
duly large and expensive. and it Is
the opinion of the committee that
they should be reduced. The troops
in Germany are being gradually
reduced, and it is believed it will
not be necessary to maintain any
troops in Europe during the fiscal
yea 1923. No adequate reason has
been shown for the maintenance
Of any troops in China"
The committee will force observ-
ance of its wishes through its ap-
propriations for pay of the army"
by providing that no money shall
ne spent to pay troops in China,
and that the maximum number in
Hawaii and Panama shall be 5000
and in Europe 500.
VIII Force Return Of 1850.
This will force the return of $500
men from Hawaii, 1000 from Pan
ana. 5000 from Germany. With
possible reductions in the Philip
pines. although this is not manda-
tory. il is figured 1900 men can
be returned to continental u s.,
thus ciTcumventing many 'bjec-
tions to the cut.
Tine National Guard received an
- nj
asking fo- $50. .0OO.O 900. The present
strength of the Guard is given at
$4,000. and it was said that this
was expected to grow to $4,000
during the next fiscal year.
Prrshing for Citizens Army.
The reduced regular army ap-
preparation makes il necessary. In
the opinion of Gen. Pershing. to de-
pend upon the development of a
large citizens army for the future
samfety OF the country. both fo- de-
fensive and expeditionary purposes.
To this end, Pershing would di-
vide the regular army in two parts:
l. The training division for the
development of citizens orGaniza-
tions. .. The regular border and
expeditionary forces.
Thus. one-haIf of the regular
army WOulu De DIVISION u Hllli-
tary teachers. according to the
Pershing plan, and the other half
division of active soldiers.
This plan was included in Per-
shing's testimony before the House
Appropriations Committee.
To serve the morale of the great
ly reduced standing army. PershinR
would do away with demotions of
officers who held high wartime
commissions Continuation of this
practice will have a lasting and
demoralizing effect. he said. with
reduced numbers we need a higher
and not a lower general standard
of efficiency
The alternative to demotion
should be slower promotion of pres
ent officers. Pershing advised. De-
motion viii not furnish a desirable
number of second lieutenants, OF
which the army Is now n great
need
AN increasing interest Is mani
fest IN the National Guard; a large
number of reserve officers have
voluntarily accepted appointments;
reports are favorable as tn the sue