Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-15
SLASH IN ARMY
WILL WRECK It
VIEW Of CHIEFS
Harbord and Lassiter
Protest Reduction in
House Bill as Peril.
Deputy Staff Head En-
phasizes Lesson and
Cost Of World War.

Washington, April 14.--lBy The AS
soclated Press The question OF
military preparedness was discussed
Friday in the senate appropriations
committe during its consideration of the
army appropriation bill. Discussion of
the subject was brief. but senator's said
the question of national policy had
grown out of the fight over the house
reduction in the size of the army.
Major General J. G. Harbord. deputy
chief Of staff, and Brigadier General
Lassiter. in charge of military opera
tions and training. appeared before the
committee to present the war depart
ment's views on the subject of the
house cut, the former insisting that the
organization was strained to the break
ing point now under the forced reduc-
ton of year ago and the later de
scribing the plan adopted by the de-
partment for building up at low ex
pense the forces required in national
emergency"
What Is Mission of $4,000?
IF provision is not made for 10000
men," said General Harbord. then we
who are charged with operation and
maintenance of the work must ask con-
the army
The statement followed Il series of
questions by Senator Hitchcock, demo-
crat. Nebraska, who contendea that the
European idea of preparedness had
been proved wrong by the world war.
General Harbord declared that the
United States would have saved much
money upon which it now is paying
interest if it had been properly pre-
pared for the war. The work done by
the American army. he said was at
expense ''and would have
availed nothing had not gallant little
France held the line until we got our
machinery going
Heavy Cost In interest on Debt
Mr. Hitchcock argued that the United
States had fooled" all Europe in get
ting actively and effectively into the
fray in less than a year To this the
general answered that had the prepara-
ton taken place ahead of the declara-
ton of war, Germany might have felt
different about engaging u.s."
We did it in year. though con-
tinued General Harbord. but had we
lived up to the national defense act
and carried out its terms in good faith,
we certainly would have saved i'm
mense sums that now enter into the
public debt. upon which we are paying
1851 100000 interest annually"
Something Must Crack
General Harbord pressed the need
for officers and men to do what the
public expects of US 1t is the work
outside of the actual army functions
that require the extra personnel, he
declared. adding that congress. by it's
appropriations and otherwise. had
shown such work was worth while and
thus the army had come to regard it
IS "our mission" He reiterated that
10 cut down the strength to 115,OOO.
as proposed by the house. meant that
something somewhere would have to
rack, would have to go undone"
In connection with the army reduc-
ion. General Harbord said that it had
,een necessary to "close" nine military
attache offices. He also told the com
nittce that the war department was
again seriously considering the aban +,
ionment Of some Of the army posts and
he concentration of the forces into
hose retained.
Will Scatter the Divisions
It was disclosed also that the de- !
'artment contemplated an early scat |
ering' Of the First and Third divisions. |
low stationed Mt Camp Dix, n. j., and |
Continued on Page Seven)