Evening star., 1935-03-17
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

war? If so. with whom? If not. why
the plans to spend $1,000, 900, 900
on arament during the next year?
Answers differ. But there is no
questioning the fact that war talk
and war preparation are getting a
large amount of Official attention in
and out of Congress just at this time.
Both the House and the Senate
now have approved an administration
backed bill to permit an increase OF
46,25O men and 1000 officers in the
Regular Army. The naval appropria-
ton bill, coming next, would add
1000 men and 1000 officers to the
enlisted strength Of the Navy.
Budget allotments to carry the
Army and Navy through the next
fiscal year total about S957 900 1000
That total will be increased by a
large amount of emergency spending
under the guise Of public works and
work relief
The Navy received 1898 900 900 in
an allotment by P. w. A. That money
is going for 78 new ships. Now "a
more are to be constructed.
But the fact Of record breaking
peace-time military and naval ex-
penditures is not the only develop
ment getting attention.
X X
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, chief of
staff. is reputed TO be suggesting that
the 10000 young men in the Civilian
Conservation Corps be given an op-
portunity to enlist for three months
of intensive training in the Regular
Army. The corps is to be enlarged
to 100000 under present plans. Serv-
ice now is limited to one year in the
forests. To top of that year Of work
with Army instruction would provide
the country with a large trained re-
serve.
War preparation extends beyond
the Army and the Navy. President
Roosevelt has a committee at work
headed by Bernard Baruch, devising
plan to take the profit out OF
the next war. His plan calls for a
freezing Of prices at the level pre-
vailing before trouble started. It
is being countered by a proposal
Of Senator Gerald P. Nye to place
100 per cent tax on all income
above $4,000 earned during war
time.
Senator Nye is broadening his in
vestigation of the countrys munitions
industry. with its profits from the
World War, to include an investiga-
ton of financial transactions that oc-
CURED between the European allies
and American private bankers priol
to our entrance into the trouble. Sen
sations are promised by the Senator
Added up, the figures show that
Army and Navy expenditures for the
next fiscal year are to exceed $1,000
100000. Another billion is going
to pay for interest on the debt Of
the last war and for pensions grow
ing out Of past wars. In the balance
is an expenditure of two more billions
in the form of bonus to soldiers ot
a past war.
II Il n
All of this sounds very warlike
Is it?
Prof. Charles A. Beard, well-known
historian, thinks so. He Is saying that
the United States has emerged from
some past depresSions by running into
trouble with other nations. War brings
national solidarity and big spending
But this explanation gets little more
than academic attention in Wash
ington.
Rather. very definite reasons have
been offered by officials and by Con-
gressmen for the sudden interest In
preparedness. Those reasons are listed
as follows:
1. The world is in such an un-
settled state that it is dangerous for
any nation to allow its defenses tc
go unstrengthened. Japan has in
creased her military expenditures
about 400 per cent since pre-wal
years. Her navy has been enlarged
until today it is stronger than the
American Navy in some categories OF
ships.
She is closing the door to China
door that the United States long
has sought to keep ajar. Her plans
call for building ring OF steel arounc
China, with the Philippines penetrat-
ing that ring.
Now Congress would counter by
building ring Of steel around the
United States. Plans call for making
the Hawaiian Islands an impregna'
Bile defense outpost, threatening the
line of any nation that would venture
across the Pacific. Alaska islands arr
to be fortified and the Panama de-
fenses strengthened, thus completing
the defensive triangle.
Great Britain, watching the moves
of the United States and Japan ano
of European countries, now Is NOV
ing to build up her military ano
naval power. The whole world is en-
gagged in getting ready for trouble.
2. A long period of neglect OF the
American Army and Navy makes
necessary larger expenditures at this
time.