Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-22
FIRM IN STAND
FOR ADEQUATE
ARMY AND NAVY
President Harding Opposes
Pacifist Move to Bring De-
tense Below Ratio.
SENATE TAKES UP FIGHT
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON March 22.-PresIdent
Harding has waded into the fight to pre-
serve the national defensive establish
ment from drastic raids by the pacihcist
reductionist bloc" in Congress. The
crusade against destructive economies
also was taken up in the Senate late yes
terday during the four-power treaty de-
bate by Senator POindexter, Republican,
Of Washington The ranking member Of
the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
brought out, to the apparent astonish.
ment Of many colleagues, the mainte-
nance OF a strong organized campaign to
upset the treaty navy" assigned the
United States.
Senator Poindexter declared that II the
House scheme TO slash naval personnel to
5000 is carried out, the United States.
instead Of So in the $50 ratio, would
be condemned TO a "2." or a fleet in.
ferior to that OF Japan. Senator Walsh,
Democrat, Of Massachusetts. voiced his
surprise at the existence of the pacifst
campaign, as detailed in these dispatches
at the beginning Of the week. He said
he was confident the American people
would content themselves with nothing
except "a navy that protects"
PRESIDENT STANDS
OUT FOR PREROGATIVEs.
Developments in the Senate followed
closely upon events at thefWhite House.
In executive quarters occasion was taken
to proclaim President Harding's attitude
on three cardinal points. He objects:
L To congressional attempts TO curtail
his authority as chief of
the Army and Navy, with special regard
to assignment of troops.
2. To the slashing of naval personnel
10 65.U00, as voted by the House SUP
Committee on Appropriations.
8. To reduction Of the Army below
10000.
Every indication was given that Mr..
Harding is prepared stubbOrnly to OPP
pose efforts to tamrer with his preroga-
tives as commander in-chief of the armed
forces of the Republic. The President s
assistance on his unrestricted authority
was evoked by House proposals to in
clude in the Army bill \ proviso for re-
call Of American troops from China,
Hawaii, the Canal Zone and the Rhine
Mr.. Harding served notice in so may
woods that any such interference by
Congress necessarily viii be disputed.
MEMBERS HEAR
FROM CONSTITUENTS.
After the developments at the White
House all dcube vanished as to the
Presidents attitude toward the pacifisi
drive to bludgeon and terribly dmoroua
CohgresSmen into cutting down tbs
Army and Navy. On to the desks OF
Senators and Representatives for more
than a month pscifst literature has
rained, threatening political suicide" N
November as the fate OF any Congress
man who does not oppose the Admin
fstration's Army and Navy recommends
lions. Congress is urged not to b'
frightened By the old preparedness
talk"
President Harding meantime continues
to urge the vital necessity Of prepared
ness both by land and sea. He is particu'
larry emphatic on the naval aspect OF oul
defense requirements. The Harding Ad
ministration, IL WIS categOrically stated
at the White House, would view with the
very gravest disappointment a cut that
reduces naval personnel to $4,000. The
President wishes Congress and the coun-
try to bear in mind that such a slash,
from the existing strength Of roundly
10000 would completely throw out of
Joint the ratio established by the Wash
ington conference" 1t would mean a
az" feet for America, level with Japan
or less, instead Of the "5' feet with Great
Britain, which we bargained for. The
Observation-Disclosures group, in and out of