The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-01

VIEWS ON
ARMY Size

w al sSA11AA1 3 e - -'s1-t.l:1sJ - .1l:11saJ
Not to Be Further
Reduced
washington, Oct. 26.-President
Harding's belief that the regular
army attsits present strength
12,o00 officers and 125.000---isl "sas
small as should tbe contemplated
unless there should be a decided.
change in military conditions
throughout the world : is stated
in letter Z to Secretary Weeks
made public today by the war de-.
partment in order to correct any
misrepresentation as to the size of
the army asked for in budget es-
Inmates for 1928.
The letter was written in, reply
to a. communication from Secretary
Weeks, September q explaining;
to the president that while esti-.
mates for 1900 officers and '125,-
600 men were being submitted,
the opinion Of military leaders.
regular, national guard, or reserve
was unchanged and that the mirls.
mum force to carry out the nation
al defense act of 1920 was 49, ,o0o
officers and 150, 900 men.
In reply the president said that
while he did not believe the. gov
ernment would be justified in ex-
ceeding its resources for the coming
year, there are limits in reduc-
ton beyond which we can not 60:
even in. the praiseWortIy cause Of
economy, without destroying the
excellent foundation now laid for;
our national defense and forfeit
ing the accrued benefits of world.
war. experience.
Secretary Weeks letter of Sep
tenber 421, and the presidents re-
ply dated October 81, follow:
J. Dear Mr.. President: have this
day transmitted to the director OF
the bureau of the budget the budg-
ct requirements OF the war depart
ment for the fiscal year, 1924, and.
feel that I would be neglecting my.
duty if Il did not present to you
certain salient facts in connection
Herewith.
s.Tlfe estimate submitted for
125,0oo enlisted men and u 900
officers now authorized by law does
not express the military REQUIRE
rnents IN order to carry out the
spirit and object of the national de-
tense act. In my opinion, and the
opinion OF military leaders OF the
regular army, national guard and
organIzed reserves, the minimum
number required to carry out the
,n,1royiissiion OF that act are Isl, ,o0e.
enlisted men aud 1900 officers.
.eWitf1in the limiting figure al
lowed to the war department. by
the bureau Of the budget, namely.
ssf2, ,9as,se9. it is not possible TO
meet the absolute requirements OF
the existing military Organizations
which are authorized by law. How. '.
eyer adyantage has been taken OF
the authority of the bureau OF the
budget to submit as supplements
estimates those needs Of the war
department which were considered
absolutely essential and which
3eeo,nad not be included within the
limiting figure of ssl2. .932,3os':
The total Of the regular estimate
and the supplemental estimate mas,
however, been kept below the cur
rent appliations.
.The resulting figures have been
submitted solely on the basis OF al
,owing the material plant of the
arn1ys to run down temporarily, IN
the interests Of Immediate economy,
with a full knowledge that this
means q greater expenditure IN
future years to recover from ac-
celerated deterioration. Such a
policy could only be supported an
the conviction of the absolute ne
eessity for immediate economy.
The budget is submitted with TINS
idea in mind, and should be con-
sidered now and in the years TO
come in the light of these remarks;
Respectfully yours,
fsigned) John w Weeks.
.eSdy Dear Mr.. Secretary: