Evening star., 1923-09-30
Army.

That the operations of the budset
system are responsible for the failure TO
carry out the provisions of the national
defense act, is the opinion of many VINO
have made a thorough study OF the
question. Providing appropriations for
the Army of the United States. includ-
ing the three components, rests entirely
with the bureau of the budget. NO
longer is Congress advised by the war
Department general staff as to the cor
rect needs of the military establish
ment with respect to strength OF the
Regular Army or the appropriations
therefor. Part of section 5, OF the ma
tional defense act which prescribes that
a study be made in the War Department
general staff on legislation pertaining 10
national defense, reads as follows:
whenever any plan or recommenda-
ton involving legislation by Congress
affecting national defense or the reor-
ganization of the Army is presented by
the Secretary of War to Congress. or 10
one of the committees of Congress, the
same shall be accompanied, when not
incompatible with the public interest,
by study prepared in the appropriate
, division of the War Department gem
Ieral staff including the comments and
recommendations OF sblu uiNlsloh Ioi
or against such plan and such per-
tinent comments for or against the plan
as may be made by the Secretary OF
War, the chief of staff or Individual Of
ficers Of the division OF the War De-
partment general staff in which the plan
was prepared"
Failure to carry out the above pro-
vision rests entirely with Congress. and
II goes without question that officers
who have devoted their lives to. the
tnA cd hxy hn
gained in the world war are best able
to advise Congress as to the actual mill
tary needs Of the country.
Gen. PershinE last week disapproved
the adoption of the distinctive shoulder
insignia for the different War Depart
ment branches, due to the fact that
such markings are unnecessary during
peace time and also that the department
does not desire that the uniform OF the
regular establishment be overly deco
rated. Another reason for the disap-
proval was that If one branch was per-
mitted to wear a distinctive insignia, all
of the other arms would be clamoring
for one respecting their branch Of the
service.
For some time the infantry personnel
at Fort Benning have been wearing the
traditional infantry heraldry design
the words Follow Me" inscribed there
on. A recent post inspection, it is
believed, made by the inspector gener-
ais department, brought up the au-
| thorisation for the. wearing Of this
! shoulder patch. 1t IN we'll known that
such a distinctive mark has tendency
to greatly Increase the morale and
esprit de corps of an organization. but
the. War Department has disapproved
the wearing of this distinctive insignia
and it will In all probability be shortly
published In an official War Department
order.
Members of the Washington branch OF
the Infantry Association are preparing
! for a busy fall and winter social season.
The list OF social activities which have
been agreed upon are: October 13, pic
mic at Fort Washington; December 7.
, dance at Washington barracks: Febru-
| ary Is. smoker to be held some place in
Washington.
Approximately seventy-five stu
dents are enrolled in the enlisted
specialists school of the ordnance de-
Raritan Arsenal beginning October
Is. The lack of transportation funds
| has greatly interfered with the ac-
| tivities OF the school and considerable
difficulty has been experienced in
sending this number of enlisted men
to take the instruction. The course of
| instruction will embrace auto me-
chanics. artillery mechanics. mechan-
les, blaCksmlthS, carpenters, small
arms repair mechanics and a number
! of other speciality trades required in
the organization of ordnance MAIN
tenance companies and ordnance
companies, heavy maintenance.
Mai. Gen. Charles s. Farnsworth,
chief of infantry, left Washington
September 25 for Camp Perry, Ohio,
where he witnessed the concluding
events in which the infantry team
will participate at the national
matches. Lieut.. Col. II. L. Cooper.
chief of section 4, office of the chief
of infantry, left earlier in the week to
attend the matches. Before returning
! to Washington, Gen. Farnsworth will
stop at Fort Hayes, Ohio, to visit the
battalion of the 10th Infantry.
| This week War Department special
| orders announced the assignment of
Lieut.. Col George M. Russell. gen.
eral staff. as the military attache to
Mexico. Prior to his appointment to
| his now post, Col. Russell was on duty
! at headquarters Of the Sth Corps area
Fort Sam Houston. Tex. Before re-
porting to the American embassy al
| Mexico City, Col. Russell has been
ordered to report for temporary duty
| in CO of the War Department gen.
! eral staff at Washington.
Preparation by the general staff of
mobilizing regulations have been