Evening star., 1932-05-10
HURLEY IS CALLED
FOR SECRET PROBE
House Committee Also Asks
Macarthur to Testify on
Army SIashes.
Continued From First Page.)

NOOuIIuucu FTOm FISb EdB6.J
for rigid economy in public expendi-
lures, the War Department budget for
1888 sacrifices everything in excess of
bare necessities. The sums requested
represent the minimum upon which the
military establishment may exist for a
single year rather than the true require
ments Of national defense. The depart
ment insists that any retrenchment
which destroys or seriously damages a
vital element Of our already weakened
defensive structure Is not economy but
extravaganza of the most expensive
kind.
The War Department has frequently
reported to Congress that the minimum
peace strength of the Regular Army, at
which it can carry out the missions as
signed by the national defense act and
make a reasonable preparation for a
complete and immediate mobilization
for the national defense in the event OF
national emergency declared by Con-
gresS, is 14,063 officers and $4,000 en-
listed men.
Among the armies Of the world the
American ranks sixteenth in strength,
population and first in wealth.
Gh LLACA 4COuCblOllo WOulA VI AA6 ~,
close to prostration-a condition not
conductive to the promotion of feeling
Of security at home nor to enhance the
respect with which our pacific counSels
are received abroad"
Clashing directly with Macarthur S
views, Representative Collins, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi today urged the
House to reduce the number of officers
from $4,000 TO 10000
Asserting $3,000,o0O could be saved
annually by placing 1000 officers on
inactive duty, he contended sacrifice
Of man power in favor Of mechanical
defense force is necessary for an eff
cient Army.
Collins, chairman Of the subcommit-
tee handling the 1886, 900 War De-
partment supply bill, replied at length
to the contentious expressed by Mac
Arthur that the reduction Of officers
would bring us close to prostration. ;"
He said there are about 1000 Army
officers who were in the so-called war
time hump" that clogged up promotion
lists. He added there are first lieu
tenants and captains nearing so years
of age who came in the service during
the war and who have been a stumbling
block 70 the promotion of younger
officers.
1.-THE committee believes" he said
that there is no better time than right
now, when we are seeking ways and
means to save money, to initiate pro-
gram looking to the correction of the
intolerable condition that now obtains
and it submits that this can be accom-
plished without materially, if at all
lessening available officer strength in
the event of war or national emergency
Aims at Older Officers.
at is not proposing the elimination
Of any officers from the Army. Its
proposition generally is to retire those
of the most advanced age in the several
grades. Not ALL of whom, but many OF
whom, according to their position on the
promotion list, constitute a hindrance
to the orderly advancement of Their
juniors. Those who may be retired will
continue to be subject to recall"
Collins said, "If the Infantry and
the Cavalry would retain their prestige
they must modernize and look to the
future instead of the past. We must
develop increasingly the four major
weapons-aircraft, mechanized forces,
gas and machine guns"