Evening star., 1926-10-02

GolCenI ana SIIOWeu All litlIIld-
ton to shy off from newspaper
men.
late yesterday declared the anticipated
raid on the Treasury in connection
with national defense appropriations
at the coming session of Congress
would not be sanctioned by President
Coolidge.
AT the same time, II was emphasized
there would he no material reduc-
ton in national defense appropria-
tions for the next fiscal year. The
War Department. however. disclosed
that steps already had been taken TO
clip nearly 5000 enlisted men from
the Regular Army roll this year to
avoid a deficit under current apprO-
priations.
Under repeated inquiries. 1t was ad-
mitted at the department that stop
orders on recruiting had been issued
September Is, to remain in effect until
| the end VI the present fiscal year. The
object in the orders. ii was explained
| is to reduce the enlisted strength of
the Army to an average or llU.9OU
men for the remainder OF the present
| fiscal year. as compared with an
average strength of 1850 for which
NuI CiL NOIC VApONtN''
to provide. The action was taken as
the only means by which deficits
| could be avoided.
President Disturbed.
The nature Of the White House in
| formation regarding a raid on the
| Treasury was not disclosed. hut the
contemplated movement for larger
| budgets is known to have disturbed
the President. Indications were given
that an effort will be made to impress
| upon members of the Senate and
| House the importance of keeping
down governmental expenses and to
| do all that is possible to block the pas
sage of individual appropriation bills
| calling for the expenditure OF public
| money for nome essential purposes.
The reason for the White House
| assurance that there would he no ma
| terial reduction in national defense
| appropriations for the next fiscal year
was laid at the door of informa tion
| the President has received to the eff
feet that rumOrS are current that the
| adminiStra ton proposes considerable
| reductions in the size of the Army
| and Navy as means OF economy
| There is no fOundA ton for such re
| ports. ii was declared. as the White
| House desires to maintain the Army
| and Navy at their present status.
Army officials are under a complete
| silence ban as to all questions in
| volved I'm preparation of the budget
| for the next fiscal year. The budget
| law itself restricts them and this has
| been ampIificd this year by Secretary
| Davis of the War Department il
| specific ''muZzle" orders.
| In view Of the fact that the prPSen
total availab BILE for military purpose:
| Of $265 900 900 has not been suffiCien
to maintain the flS.000 man strength
| even for half of the current fisca
year. however. the construction pu
on the White House statement IL
some quarters was that it fore
shadowed continued reduction II
| strength although no reduction in ap
| propria tiOns might be contemplated.
Cut Called Temporary.
In explanation of the stop order or
recruiting, the War Department made
a formal statement. declaring thai
the cut in strength was temporary
and does not mean the permanent
reduction of the Army" Inf1eXibilitl
| of appropriations and unexpected eX
pendtures required under the last ap
| preparation act, but not anticipated
when the estimates We're prepared
were assigned as the reasons neCes
stating "a reduction in average
| strength to avoid a deficit. The eX
| planatiOn follows:
Estimates for the current fisca
year were prepared on the basis OF
data available early in 1925. The
item Pay of the Army depends
upon many variable factors, such as
| = M I,i,
| enlisted men to recruits, turnover Of
personnel by retirements. and the pas
sage of any personnel to higher pay
| status as a result of longevity in
| CreaSeS. Furthermore. legislation by
| the last Congress provided for the ap
pOntment of all field clerks as war
rant officers, and applied the present
pay schedule to officers retired before
| it's enactment
Neither of these items had been
| anticipate in the prepara tion of esti-
mates, and the entire cost of the new
warrant officers entered as an addi
| tiOnal cost. due to the fact that they
| cannot be paid from the sum appro.
priated for Pay of Field Clerks
| There has resulted condition which
would create deficiency unless pro-
vision is made to reduce the only
flexible factor-the strength of the
Army.
r. Average to BE 1lO,9OO.
For the first few months Of the
fiscal wear that strength has been
close to the authorized ma ximum, So
during the remaining months of the
fiscal year provision must be made
for the entire deficit. This means that
instead of the authorized strength of
1850 men, the average for the re-
mainder Of the fiscal year must he
about 10000 men. This is tempo
rary condition and does not mean the
permanent reduction Of the Army"
While the necessity for economy in
the apprepria tions next year by Con
gress was being stressed at the White
House. IT was pointed out that among
other appropriations $50, ,O0O. 900 would
be required for rivers and harbors.
the largest sum needed for this pur.
pose since the war.