Evening star., 1932-12-07
NATIONAL DEFENSE.

Excluding all items of a military
nature the estimates of appropriations
contained in this Budget for national
defense under the War and Navy De-
partments amount to $5S6,4A7, 900 as
ccmpa1 ed with appropriations Of $685.
466. 1000 for 1888. which indicates a de-
crease of $46,019.000. To obtain a
proper basis for comparison. however,
there should be deducted $16,996, 900,
which represents the deductions made
IN the 1884 estimates predicated upon
. continuance during that fiscal year of
certain provisions of the Economy Act.
, On this comparable basis the decrease
Is slightly more than $29, 100000
With regard to the War Department
the net decrease Is $l8,2l5,000 which
results from large number of items
Of increase and decrease. The principal
item Of decrease is Army construction,
for which $17,414,000 was appropriated
I'm 1888 and for which no similar item
Is included in this Budget. Construc-
ton under the Army housing program
has progressed to such q stage that q
postponement of further construction
can be made at this time without det-
riment to the Army. Other decreases
WAiiNl AiCilt ulCLtlUu llcIS are 3d.
$4,000 in arming, equipping and train
ing the National Guard, effected prin-
cipally by the inclusion in the estimate
OF appropriation of Q provision tempo
rarily suspending existing law so as to
permit q reduction in the number of
armory drills paid for by the United
States from 48 to "a, and $780,, 900
for citizens military training camps,
made possible by a reduction of the
number OF trainees to be ordered to
such camps. The principal increase is
"a, 483, 900 for subsistence of the Army.
which Is due to the fact that the ap-
preparation for 1888 was supplemented
by S5,435, 600 of excess stock and funds
accumulated from prior year appropri-
ations-no similar assets being avail
able for 1894. There Is also an increase
Of $I,243, 900 for transportation of the
Army, required principally for the pro-
curement of trucks and ambulances
plies and It's personnel and baggage.
Army Personnel.
Provision is made in these estimates
Tor average active strengths Of $4,000
commissioned officers, 883 warrant Of
ficers and 118, $50 enlisted men of the
Regular Army, and $500 enlisted men
Of the Philippine Scouts; for an actual
average strength Of ,185, 900 officers and
men Of the National Guard: for the
training of 16,722 members of the Or
ganized Reserves for varying periods;
for the enrolment and instruction of
127,565 students in the Reserve ON
GERS Training Corps UNITS In schools
and colleges, and the training Of 7;2o0
OF this number in 30-day camps. and
for 80 days attendance at citizens
military camps of $4,000 trainens. The
estimates for 1884 make provision for
the adequate maintenance and opera
ton OF Army Air Corps activities and
for the procurement of 375 new air.
planes, which win give the Air Corps
total of 1857 airplaneS, on hand
and on order on June 80, 1894, leay-
ing a shortage of only III in the ap-
proved program Of 1,648 airplanes for
the Regular Army.
For the Navy Department the net
decrease in the estimates for 1894 from
the appropriations for 1888 Is $10,-
100000. There is a reduction of
$l2,554, 900 for ordinary maintenance
and operating expenses; $10,240, 900 for
public works projects, and $9,450, 900 in
the amount for modernization of bat
tleships. Offsetting these reductions.
totaling So, 900, is an increase of
'$21 $4,000 for construction of new
vessels.
The items for ordinary maintenance
and operation provide for maintaining
during the fiscal year 1884 an average
Of 79,700 enlisted men of the Navy
the same as provided for 1888, and an
average OF 13,6o0 enlisted men of the