South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-23
ANGLO,AMERICAN
PEACE Is TESTED
Elimination of Friction l.
Found 10 Permit Great
Saving of Money.

WASIIlNGTON. March ZL.-J Ohm
Bull and your Uncle Samuel who
came out OF the recent armament
conference standing more nearly
shoulder 20 shoulder than ever be-
fore in history. apparently have de-
cided 20 test out this hands across
the sea" spirit and see If it is genu-
inc.
Elimination Of Anglo-American
discord which many international
observers hold TO be the most inn
portant result achieved by the late
armament conference. is 20 be re-
Elected on both sides of the Atlantic
by sIashiug cuts into the armies and
navies OF Britain and America that
go much farther than ordered by the
conference.
Singularly enough. the cuts are
somewhat similar on both sides.
Dhether this is a coincidence. hap
pen-so. or whether il developed ont
of some Of the numerous converse
tOns" between American and British
statesmen I'm Washington during the
last four months is a matter of con-
lecture. Nevertheless its true.
Parallel at W aSnlnglOh.
The recent recommendation OF the
Lloyd George government 90 the
house Of commons that the army be
demobilized TO the extent OF $4,000
officers and men finds an almost
exact parallel i'm Washington. The
present strength Of the American
army is 10000 officers and men.
Congressional primers are planning
10 cut the American army just that
much - eliminate 5000 officers
through the agency of "pluckins
boards and cut down the enlisted
personnel 20 around 100000.
The Lloyd George government
recommended 10 the house of COM
mons that 30. 900 officers and mon of
A.. the British navy he demobu-zed
This too. fits in almost exactly with
congressional plans on this sidt OF
the water
The present strength of the Amer
, lean navy is around 10000 officers
: and men. Congress threatens to cut
. lit to 5000 men. a reduction of 80
900 as against the British cut of So
GOO. Congressmen, with an eye %
saving money, and an argument next
November, assert that with the re-
/ duction in the number of ships al.
read agreed to the navy does not
need a larger personnel than $4,000.
Army Appropriations Similar.
In appropriations for the upkeeT
, of the army and navy there are found
similar corresponding slashes.
The British estimate it VIII ta5C
! f21. 100000 sterling to run their navy
next year. This is about $l05,O0O,-
O0o. at normal exchange.
The American budget estimate was
lS431,754.000 for the American navy
next year. It IS regarded as yirtu-
ally certain. however, that congress
sional cutting is going to bring this
figure down by One-haIf, or to around
$500. 900. 900 This would be almost
TO a parity with the British estimate
for the expenses Of running the
American navy are just about twice
what they are for the British. The
American sailor gets more money
eats more expensive food, is more
extensively clad. and other expenses
are similarly greater.
For the British army the estimate
was 100000, 900 sterling or about
800 600, 90 at normal exchange. The
American estimate I'm the last budget
was S369.9O2. But here again the
congressional knives are going 20 bC
keenly felt. and it is not improbable
that considering the differences ir
the cost Of up-keep, the British and
American estimates viii not be fan
apart when the congress completes
its surgery.
Analogy Goes Further.
A similar comparison is to be
found I'm the estimates for the ali
forces Of the two countries. Great
Britain has all her air services com
bined under the Royal Air force, for
which the government estimated E5.-
100000 sterling Cabout $25.OO,OOO)
would be necessary.
The American air force is split be-
tween the army air service and the
naval air service. The estimate for
THE former this year is S14.964. 800
land for the latter S16.195,000 or a
total of S31,159.40O.
l. would seem that. all things cou-
sidered. the land and sea forces of
Britain and America are to he some
where near a parity for some years
to come. as the estimates of neither
country contemplate any constructive
building.