The New York herald., 1922-05-13
CUT NARMY FOUGHT |
BY ADMINISTRATION
Insists Bill Should Fix
Force at $4,000 Officers
and $50, Men.
GUARD rs JEOPARDIZED
Experts Say House Plan
Would Nullify Training
OF All Reserves.
HOPE SEEN IN WARNING
Weeks Believes Senate Will
Perceive Defects and Oppose
Pending Measure.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. May 12.
Administration forces to-day in
augurated fight against the reduc-
ton of the regular army, proposed in
the House BILL now in the Senate.
with the vigor that was used against
the attempt by the same forces in the
House to reduce the navy personnel
to degree, which, in the opinion OK
experts, would have wrecked that
branch of the military service.
The Administration is standing for
an army of $4,000 officers and 10000
men. while the House bill provides for
1900 officers and 115,000 men. Even
the number the Administration ac-
cepts Is a large reduction from the
army of 1920. which had 100000 men.
In addition to this. it is said by
army experts the House bill would
nullify the chief purpose of the regu-
lar army, which is the training of the
National Guard and the organized re-
serves. with the result the country
preparedness that existed before the
war and which, Gen. Pershing says
NAV have compelled our entrance
into it.
According to army opinion it would be
impossible under the appropriation con-
tanned in the Houso bill to maintain tne
civilian training camps or to tram tns
National Guard units. and the organized
rrouns would he wrecked. The House
Gill, they assert, would nullify the
structure of the National Defense act
which aims to maintain a regular army
Just large enough for defense ana iof
civilian training, and which provides the
machinery for enlarging the 'arnec
forces promptly, in the event OF hosth
tiles.
Army Pay Bill I'm Way.
Information from the Capitol Is that
action on the army bill is being held w
pending action in the House on the
army pay measure. AS soon as this
measure Is out of the way the Senate
win take up the House Appropriation
bill. which the Administration finds So
Objectionable.
Secretary of war Weeks believes tho
warnings issued by the President. by
himself by Gen. Pershing and Gen.
Harbord will be effective when the
Senate comes to consider the House bill.
which does not have even the approval
of the House Cornmittee ON Military
Affairs.
1t is plainly intimated thai Presiden-
tial approval never will be given to any
measure like that which has emanated
from the House.
''I can think of no greater folly" Sec
rotary Weeks says, than attempts TO
economze by unwise reduction of ou-
forces below the minimum requred for
the development of the national defense
system sanctioned by the National De-
fenss act"
Concerning the inadequacy of the
House measure. Secretary Weeks said:
1.-The entire structure rests upon the
soundest economic foundation. The
best talent we have in our country.
trained in the service before the war,
with the added experience of service
during the war, and with the fullest APP
probation of our economic requirements.
is unanimous In the belief that we
should not reduce our regular forces
below 10000 men,"
Pershing I'm Accord.
Gen. Pershing reports this position
with emphasis
"a careful consideration of the work
In hand,' he says, "if the initial well
laid scheme Is ibot to be seriously cur
tailed. and many essential activities
ciusion that any further reduction would
be disastrous"
President Harding has gone on record
in favor of the solid support of the
principles a. the National Defense act
and his utterances In favor of the
system are freely quoted by the sup
porters of the army of 10000.
Supporting the theory that the House
bill defeats the purpose of the National
Defense act Gen. Harbord and Gen.
Pershing are i'm entire sympathy.
II believe the appropriations as
passed by the House." Gen. Harbord
said. 'is dangerously small and inn
perls the national defense. particularly
striking at the National Guard, the or
ganzed reserves, the reserve officers
training camps and the civilian mill
tary training camps. The measure so
reduced the regular establishment that
the purpose of the act OF June 4. 1920,
cannot be carried out
The House bill is opposed by the Mil
itary Affairs COMMITTEES, by President
Harding. Secretary Weeks. Gems. PERISH
ing and Harbord, by the officers OF
the regular army. by tho National
Guard and organized reserves. by the
american Legion. Veterans Of Foreign
Wars. the Military Order OF the World
Var. and in fact by practically every
organization having anything to do with
military matters.
Gen. George c. Richards. chief of the
Militia Bureau. said
I'VE have the best National Guard,
no matter from what point you view
II, we have ever had in our history.
But when | say this I mean the guard
OF this day. II radical reductions such
as now are advocated by so many MEM
bers OF Congress prevail cannot say
what kind of guard we will have
within few months"
The Mckenzie bill. introduced by Rep
resentativc Mckenzie tfll) fixing the
pay of officers and men IN the army and
navy. the Coast Guard and other coor-
dnate branches OF the service. was
passed by the House this evening by a
vote OF 2fs 60 26.
The pay OF the lowest grade of on
listed men In army and navy was in
creased during the war Lowest grade
privates in the army are now receiving
$40 month.
What increases are made are made on
the basis OF length of service and tech
nical skill required Some of the en-
listed men, under this bill. will receive as
high as 800 a month. The increases IN
ray for officers Is based on time OF
service also.