The New York herald., 1922-03-06
DENLY Fears Only Thing
Left to Do Will Be to
Anchor the Fleets.
HOME WANTS CARED FOR
Reductions in Estimates for
Land Forces May Close
Many Posts.
Special Dispatch 20 THE Nxw yonk HERALD


Naval officers say the recently s.
o-5-3 is being reversed by the attitude
OF Congress so far as America is con-
cerned, and army experts declare that
although the conference set no limit
on land ornaments, Congress seems
determined to cut appropriations to a
figure where even the upkeep Of the
home stations would be impossible
President Harding is quoted as say
ing he is sure Congress will not make
il impossible for ships of the fleet to
operate, or sieletonize the army. He
has advocated force of not less than
1906 men in the army, and not less
than $4,000 in the navy.
Secretaries Weeks and DENLY are less
sanguine as to the intentions OF Con-
gress and especially the House APP
preparations Committee. Secretary
Weeks recently declared: Il have had
my say. IT is not my army, but the
peoples. II they want to make the cut
they have right to do so. Congress. it
was stated by Secretary Weeks. would
vote big cut in funds. but probably
would oppose the abandonment of forts
and stations in their individual districts
DENLY Is sitting Tight.
After pairing his original estimates
for 1929 to the bone. Secretary DENLY
Is sitting tight" 1t is known he has
reduced naval expenditures. curtailed
served his personnel to the maximum
limit of efficiency. He says the only
one thing left for him to do is to anchor
the fleets. Saturday he made his Anal
cut by laying UP Atty more destroyers
and flfty-one auxiliary craft. the last
possible move toward economy unless
oil anchors are ie. 80.
THE power OF the House Appropria-
tions Committee is so arbitrary to-day
isaa TO make former Speaker cannon's
alleged reign of 'czarism' a poor imita-
tion Of power" 1t was said by one Gov
crnment official.
So far, the plans OF Congress al an
nounced indicate that a reduction OF
approximately s55.000.000 will be made
In the army estimates of $685.. 900, 900,
the budget figures for the next fiscal
year, and a personnel cut from the pres
ent strength OF $4,000 men to $4,000.
with 1900 officers instead of $4,000.
Even the benefit of a lump sum ap-
preparation has been denied to the War
Department which would have enabled
the Secretary to allot the funds with q
view to economy and necessity.
n t11a an ha rt nf
Secretary Weeks indicates, will necessi-
tate the abandonment OF one-third of
the present army posts forts. flying
fields and training camps IL being inn
possible with only 100000 men in the
effective army to man 200 posts and
stations here and in the islands. A re-
duction Of $4,000 men and 1900 officers
would make the problem mathematically
impossible. he says. In this he Is
backed by Gen. Pershing, who advocates
an army OF nearly the present strength
but recommends wedding out at the top
of the list.
Defense Posts Must Go.
II is estimated by army officers that
under such limited funds and personnel
as Congress aims to grant. only few
of the important coast defense posts
could be manned arsenals would have
TO be consolidated or abandoned. and
that possibly aviation activities would
be transferred to the National Guard
and reserve forces.
Congress has allowed no deficiency
appropriation for the reopening of the
Governments helium plants, which ex-
tract this invaluable and non-inflama-
Bile gas urgently needed by the army
and naval lighter than air services. It
tsea ssaf1 txts tlxs,fr
ever that the subject OF hellum was be-
ing studied by O. subcommittee, and that
It would come up later.
Naval officers take the view that Con-
gress does not realize what IL Is doing
to the navy, and Congress. il is said.
feels that its authority is not receiving
proper recognition This attitude is
clearly shown in the recent fight on the
naval fuel deficiency" which naval Of
ficers hold is not deficiency. as the
$i2.000,0o0 requested for fuel ana ac-
cessories was a request for authority to
reallot funds already appropriated for
other less vital purposes.
The House. on Saturday. however. ap-
propria ted only s6,000.000 for fuel up to
June 30. so per cent. reduction from
the amount declared essential by the de-
partmcnt which has already consumed
nearly half of the funds allotted in the
last Two months. It Is said to be alb
soutoly impossible 60 operate the fleets
on this amount, even II the ships were
AZ anchor
May lie q 5-2-3 Ratio.
Congressional cuts In the funds for
1928 and the reduction in the man power
below the limit set by MIR. DENLY at
$500 would result in changing Amer
ica's naval ratio or ) to 3. and if the
personnel was reduced to 10000. as has
aF s~s.