Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04

view to making as big a reduction as
possible in the annual APPROPRIATION for
the the military establishment.
Mr.. Hoover'S announcement of the
survey made it plain that the admin
istration will maintain completely ade-
quate preparedness" He feels, however
that there should be a study of the
Army costs to 'See what services and
other OUTLAWS have become obsolete
through advancement of science and
war methods and what development
programs can be well spread over long
er periods"
Announcement Of the inquiry CEN
tered attention here on the present cost
of the Army as compared with the ex-
penditureS of other nations. 1t also
brought forth indications that any at
tempt to close certain military posts
to cut down overhead costs would be
met by opposition from Senators and
Representatives in whose districts these
posts are located.
Army a Training School.
The Regular Army today, with only
about $4,000 combat troops in con-
tinental United States, is really only
the training school for an army of
100000 or so which this country
would put into the field in emergency.
There are only three infantry divisions
in continental United States that are
organized and ready to 60 into the
field tomorrow, and these are at a
peace-time strength. Regular Army
units are for the most part cut to the
bone. The experience of a Regular
Army major who recently turned out
his battalion to find it to consist of
eight squads - about war-strength
platoon--is not unusual. What with
special details and men absent for va
riouS reasons, the average infantry
company will do well If it can muster
a fair sized platoon for parade, and by
the same token a battalion is often
little larger than company.
Army appropriations for the fiscal
year beginning July amount to 1881,
1888, 442, as compared with $311, 497. =
900 for 1928-192S. The housing and
air expansion program account for the
bulk of this increase. Going back to
1916, the year before the United States
entered the World War, it is found
that the War Department spent. for
purely military activities, total of
$123, 391 1896, and in 1903 it spent for
the same purposes 0,295 900. The
increase has been a large one. but 1t
is due in the main to two things.
Cost Of Living Rises.
First the cost of living has gone up
Not only must the Army pay its men
more, but the cost of equipment, food
and everything else that enters into a
military establishment has risen. The
rate of pay in the American Army re-
fleets the high wage scale that prevails
in American industry.
Second. the Army has to spend q
good deal of money, perhaps $75,000,-
600 year, on new activities, such as
the Air Corps, the Organized Reserves
and the Citizens Military Camps. The
science of war has advanced since 1916
and a modern army, no matter how
small, must have tanks, airplanes, rail-
road artillery and so on. The develop
ment of new weapon rarely, If ever,
replaces an old one. If new weapon
is discovered it merely adds to the
equipment which an army must MAIN
tain in peace.
In terms of the 1918 dollar, the per
capita cost of the American Army in
1927 was $1.57, as compared with Slip
in 1912. Meanwhile national wealth
has tremendously increased. For ex-
ample, per $4,000 of national wealth,
the Army cost 1914 in 1918, as COM
pared with $6.27 in 1927.
Perhaps an even better idea Of the
relatively small cost of the military
establishment is obtained by comparing
its cost with that of Federal, State and
municipal governments. For 1926, the
per capita cost of the Federal, State
and municipal governments was $118.93
and of this amount $2.25 went to main
tain land forces. The percentage cost
of the Army was, therefore 1892 Of the
total cost of government. The cost of
the Navy was 2.66 per cent of
the total, making the combined cost Of
national defense 4128. To put it in
another way, for every 500 taxpayers
paid to the Federal, State or municipal
governments in 1929 less than $413
went to support military and naval
forces.
Appropriations Compared.
Appropriations for armies of some of
the principal powers in 1927 were as
follows: The United States, 1882 49,
885, per capita, $2.10; British Empire,
1896, 804,O30, per capita, $o.s6; France,
$242 1855, 469, per capita, 1922; Italy,
per capita, 1888; Japan,
$107, 400, ZOO, per capita, $0.97; Russia,
$420, 731 600, per capita, 81 81, and Ger
many, $112,152,7 TAO, per capita, SLIT.
The appropriations for the British En-
pire are figured out on basis Of the
total population of the empire, in
GLIDING the 300, 1000, 900 people in India.
AS a matter of fact, the 45,000,000 peo-
pie in the British Isles pay most Of the
bills for the British army, and ON this
basis the per capita cost would be much
higher.
Land and sea appropriations for the
principal powers in 1927 were as fol-
Tw.kA S&afA ~
capita, $4.48; British Empire, $749,133,
$50, per capita, 1918; Italy, $215 ,263,-
$50, per capita, $486; Japan, $225, 100,-
100, per capita, $2.13; Russia, $420,37l,-
900, per capita, $2.87, and Germany,
$164, 3O4, 728, per capita, $3.50.
The cost of the air service Of both
army and navy were as follows: Britain,
500 ,287, 450; United States, $89. Ali ,592;
France, $50, 1877, 754; Italy, $50, $40 900,
and Japan, $28,3s5,043. The various
powers have army air services OF the
following strength: The United States,
10,508 officers and men, 1,104 planes;
Britain, 1929 officers and men, 1895
4,500 planes; Japan, $500 officers and
men, 700 planes; Russia, 10000 officers
and men and 1900 planes.
German Service F0rbiduen.
The air service in Britain is Seperate
ministry, independent of the army and
the navy. Under the treaty of YER
sailleS. Germany is forbidden to have a
military air service, but, in the opinion
of competent observers, she has more
than made up for this through her
great expansion In civil aviation.
The authorized peace strength OF the
,F kI,a tN..ix. &c oc
follows: The United States, 1912;
Great Britain, 212,044 exclusive of
native troops in India); France, 626, 488;
Italy, 249, 429; Japan, BOG, 400; Russia,
562 900. and Germany 100.635.
Another comparison of interest Is the
number of soldiers active and reserve,
that the principal powers have to bill