Evening star., 1924-03-13
CHAPTER XVIII.
e706 Ont OF Each d 900 for Warn.

The national defense act was passed
by Congress on June 4. 1920. 1t was
e. substitute for universal military
training. to which the War Depart
ment was previously opposed. The
act Is revolutionary In its departure
from the old American methods. Ex-
Senator George K. Chamberlain OF
Oregon says of the act: Nearly all
the control heretofore exercised by
Congress over the Army In to be
transferred, theoretically. to the
President. but practically to the chief
OF staff--however, Congress- is still
permitted to foot the bills. 1t spells
one man dominance, staff despotism
ana militarism to a degree never sur
passed in the palmiest days of the
great general staff of the German
army"
Tie act provides for National
army, National Guard and Organized
Reserves. Thee divisions.
"A comparison of our war activities
might prove very instructive and
helpful: During this time. accoi ding
to the 1928 report Of the SECRETARY of
war. the National Army has in
creased from 92,035 men in 1913 to
l32,sa4 In 1923; the National Guard
ganized Reserves from zero in 1913
to 1883 in 1928. So the total of the
Amy of the United States has in
creased during this, ten-year period
Sls;3 to 1929 from 212.S37 men to
5l,17o men. These are significant
figures. They tell story we hear
all too little about.
a word about tho Organized Re-
serves. There are two divisions.
senior and junior divisions. The
RI lftrt.
tsry training into the colleges and
universities of the United States.
This division now reaches 124 COL
ieges and universities and $1,000
students. This is less than one-nfth
OF the total t61S institutions. and
roliment (334,000). The junior di-
vision reaches los of the 1900 sec
ondary schools, which are high
schools and preparatory schools,
where junior units might be main
tanned and $4,000 students out of a
possible 100000 are now receiving
military training.
Expenses Shoot Upward.
The total expenses. too, have shot
upward from S202. 100000 in 1913 to
$355, 10000 in 1928. The Secretary of
War does not like to have this ex.
dent Harding as follows:
This estimate does not express
tho military requirements in order
to carry out the spirit and object of
tho national defense act. The result
ing hgures have been submitted
solely on the basis of allowing the
material plant of the Army to run
down temporarily in the interest Of
immediate economy, with a full
knowledge that this means great
expense in future yea S to recover
from accelerated deterioration"
He says again in his 1923 report:
Since 1921 the total number of in
ufViduals under military training or
in the military organizations has de-
creased from 519.041 to 514,010. This
does not spell progress but rather
reaction. l. therefore. recommend
strongly against the slightest cutting
or the budget as submitted to Con-
gress. We are already cut below our
vital needs"
Let US now look at the expense
ledger of this big spending bureau of
tho government.
% The Quartermaster Corps, which
furnishes food. supplies, clothing and
Army transportation, spent fo~ the
fiscal year 1928 a total OF $S3. .s62. 900.
OF this s1s.7o5.o0o was spent for Army
transportation" This CORDS asks
for 81: 100000 less for 1924
CD The Army Air Service spent
s1s,141.ooO in III" fiscal wear 1923.
Together with the naval air force
America has now the second largest
air force in the world. In June 1928,
there wee $50 officers and s.524 men
connected with this service. OF the
Army officers accidentally
killed in the Army in the fiscal year
1928, thirty-three were killed in the
air service.
Ordnance Estimate Reduced.
f3) The ordnance department. spent
ss,115.oOo in 1923. This is cut by
s3,500,oo0 in the estimates for 1924.
This department has to do with the
purchase and control OF guns, rifles,
tanks, field artillery and arsenals
t4) The militia bureau spent s2S,-
$4,000 in the fiscal year 1929. OF
this amount the National Guard re-
ceived $24.722.000 and the Training
Corps and camps another ss.476.0oo.
go The Military Academy at West
Point took S2,075,0O0 for 1923. About
the same amount is appropriated for
(6) Public military works took an
other s6,os7,Ooo in 1929. This his item is
(7) The finance department is the
big spending bureau Of the War De-
partment. The greatest amount con-
sists of the pay of the Army. There
is also an item of s1.015 900 for rail-
road mileage. A total of S137472. 900
was spent in the fiscal year 1928
This is cut by about s13,00o.0 900 for
1924.
OF the non-military activities Of
the War Department. the soldiers
homes took S5,087,0o0 in 1928 This
is increased by about $1,500.000 in
the budget estimate for 1924.