Evening star., 1925-08-09
Friends of Army Fear Its Efficiency
May Be Impaired by Economic Program

ment for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1926,
was $s41174,771. This sum. however, is d.
vided as follows: Strictly military appropra-
tions, $262, ,134,050; nonniltary, including
rivers and harbors work, $70,305 ,355. and for
Jurisdiction of the War Department, $s,775.366.
In search of further governmental economy,
not unnaturally an effort is made to see II the
appropriations for the military establishment
may not be Topped of here and there
1t is no secret that friends of the Army are
hoping for the return of Secretary Weeks to his
desk In the War Department by the end of
the Summer, ready to continue his fight for the
Army and military efficiency. Reports of his i'm
proved physical condition have been received
here with much satisfaction. His opinions have
much weight with President Coolidge and with
Congress, where he served for years mem
Der Of the House and later Senator
The seriousness of the situation regarding
the maintenance of the Army Is reelected today
in the large turnover in the enlisted person
mel. Men who in the past would have re-enst
ed and made the Army career fall to re-en-
list In large numbers. and the reason given is
that they not properly housed. Further
more the ration is declared in many posts to be
lnadequate-not to maintain life. but give
a reasonably diversified and palatable diet. In
some places, the is augmented by pur-
chases made with funds indirectly derived from
the men themselves. big turnover in per-
sonnel does not make for the greatest efficiency
in the Army any more than 1t does for eff
cheney in industrial plant. And efficiency in
as Army means added National defense.
Bad Conditions at Post.
Take a few instances of the conditions under
Tex, the largest Army post in the country, con-
dftions are said to be deplorabe. Troops are
quartered in the temporary buildings con-
structed during the war and regarded merely
makeshifts. Officers quarters inadequate,
and millions of dollars worth of equipment are
stored in fmsy frame buildings
The great aviation headquarters at Kelly
Field and at Brooks Field the officers quar-
ters, barracks, hangars and storehouses
all OF the 1917 temporary construction. A fire
on windy night might wipe out two-thirds of
the Armys air equipment centered at these
posts. Similar conditions prevail at Scott Field.
Ill, headquarters for the lighter-than-air serv-
ice.
Not long ago at Fort Sill fire destroyed more
than hundred of the quarters used for ON
GERS. There Is no money to reconstruct them.
The permanent stations of the 5th and 18th
Infantry Regiments in coast defense posts in
Portland and Boston regarded as only
makeshifts. Conditions at Boston Harbor are
regarded as especially unsatisfactory. Recon-
mendation has been made for the construction
or one or more permanent posts on the main
land for the 18th Infantry Brigade, which COM
prtses these two regiments This is in the
1st Corps Area In the other corps areas con-
ditions reported to be as bad or worse In
the 3rd Corps Area, for example, the shelter
for troops. for disqualification and for supplies
at Fort Hoyle' and Fort Eustis is insufficient
The training plant at Camp Mcclellan, in the
4th Corps Area, is composed Of temporary
or two longer. Yet it is at this camp that the
Organized Reserves, the Reserve Officers
Training Corps and the citizens military
training camps receive their Summer training.
Barracks at Boiling Field.
The barracks at Boiling Field the District
of Washington are declared to be unsuita Bile
and of temporary construction. The sick rate
Is higher there than at other station in the
district. and is said be due to the poor drain
age and the type of building used by the com
mand Indeed, so far the Air Service is con-
cerned with the exception of a few isolated
permanent buildings, the entire lot of buildings
was constructed during the war, in hurry
and designed TO last but for year or two
Getting farther away, 1t is reported that sew
eral buildings occupied barracks at Manila
might well be said to be uninhabitable and the
barracks and quarters at Camp Stotsenburg
as bad.