Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-07
BITTER FIGHT SEEN
/. IN ARMY CUT MOVE
Hoover Faces Trying Battle
With General Staff on
Economy Plans.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

In his attempt to cut down mate
rally the cost Of running the military
establishment of the Government Pres
ident Hoover is In for a trying struggle
before he succeeds, according to those
who are familiar with the ways of the
general staff Of the American Army.
The fight he necessarily will have
from time to time with Congress will, 1t
Is predicted, be nothing compared with
what is confronting him in his en-
counter with the generals who are run
ming the Army. President Hoover's
tempted to buck the general staff
never have met with much success and
because Of all this the latter has come
to be looked upon in official circles as
virtually supreme where the destinies OF
the Army are concerned.
The Army staff acts as a unit when
1t Is attacked There Is no dissenSion
or insurgency within its ranks. 1t
moves quietly and 1t has ever been able
to demonstrate a formidableness that
has kept its powers and force intact.
oCSauSc Va LALS CLic oIdA frequently Aino
been claSsed as the strongest bu-
reaucracy in the Government.
Hoover Is Mindful of This.
President Hoover Is mindful of all
this, but he has issued the challenge
just the same and the battle is on.
When the smoke of his first gun cleared
away, which was in effect public
pronouncement that the Army has cost
entirely too much money and that It
must retrench, the Army heads re-
turned fire by publicly announcing that
this could not be done; that the cost
should be increased instead of de-
creased. The Presidents retort was to
the effect that he wanted a complete
survey made to see what services and
other OUTLAWS have become obsolete and
that he would place the full response
bility upon the Army. Then a decision
would be reached. he said.
That Is where the battle stands for
the present.
The progress Of this battle will not
be broadcast round by round, as is the
case when the President has locked
horns with the Senate or House over
some question Of legislation. The fight
between the President and the general
staff is more of family affair and as
such will be kept within closed doors,
and there will be no ringside reports
until the battle is over, or at least until
one side is declared the winner. Nothing
definite will be learned until the day
when President Hoover will announce
publicly whether his ideas of Army re-
trenchment may proceed.
Figures Caused Slash Move.
Mr.. Hoover's determination to do
ell t.,l,a
cerned came about after he had stud
led some recent figures showing the
estimated increase in Federal expendi-
lures over the next four years, as
by Congress. These figures showed
an estimated increase Of from $500 000,-
600 to $500. 100000 above the total ex-
penditureS Of four years ago and that
about one-half of this estimated in
crease was for military and naval ex-
penditures. This increase as estimated
did not include what is spent on vet
Grams. which represents more than
$800,O0000O annually. Moreover, the
President was further alarmed when he
discovered that many bills are pending
before Congress that will further in
crease the military and naval expenses.
He concluded that the American
people should understand that current
expenditures or strictly military activ-
tiles of the Army and Navy constitute
the largest military budget Of any ma
ton in the world today and at a time
when there is less real danger of ex-
tensive disturbance to peace than at any
time in more than half a century.
Aside from the fact that Mr.. Hoover
considers all this mounting cost Of the
Army and Navy as being economically
wrong, he has visions OF all hope for
further tariff reduction being lost unless
there Is some economiZing on the Army
and Navy expense. He made it obvious
when he started his fight to bring this
about that he Is not concerned about
the Navy. He hopes to save materially
on naval expenditures by international
agreement on naval armament.
Good Did Not Join Protest.
AS might be expected, therefore, when
the President singled out the Army for
the pruning knife. there was a terrific
protest from the Army. Secretary of
War Good did not join in the complaint
at that time. He was represented as
being in accord with the President.
As the echoes OF this protest reached
the White House the President decided
upon whats hould have been q we'll
advised diplomatic stroke. He invited
the Secretary Of War, the two Assistant
Secretaries of War and Gen. Summerall
chief of staff of the Army, to be his
guests for the week end at his retreat
in the Blue Ridge Mountains Of Vir-
ginia. A better understanding. 1t was
thought, could be reached more readily
so far from the atmosphere of the
Capital. The Presidents tent was the
scene of series Of long, serious talks
regarding his economy plan and. al
though a definite account has not been
revealed, 1t is taken from developments
that the President lost the first skirmish
Of the big battle. At least he was out
pointed for the moment.
Those who know the ways of Presi-
dent Hoover are satisfied that he will
win. They contend that he will wait
for the general staff to make its survey
and to report and II the latter is not
satisfactory to him he will have sur
vey made by q body Of civilian experts