The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-12
CRITICS SILENT
ON RECORD SIZE
ARMY-NAvY BILL
S912,230,6 65 Appropriated
for 1887, Largest in
Peace Times.
Editorial on Page Fourteen)

By Scripps- HowGrd Newspaper Alliance
WASHINGTON, May 12.-With-
out protest from the National Econ
omy League, the Liberty League, or
any Of the other outstanding advo-
Gates OF government retrenchment
or Chambers of Commerce, Con-
gress has just approved the largest
military and naval appropriations
ever made by this country in peace
time.
For 1887 the Navy has been al
lowed 1929 ,125,806; the Army-for
strictly military purposes-$383, 1884,
$50. The total is S912, 230,665
Together the two services will
probably spend some 1894 600, 900,
however since they have money left
from CARRIER allotments.
Congress pared some $4,000 900
from the appropriations asked for
the Navy. But it increased Army
funds by 100000.
In fiscal year 1893, the budget for
which was prepared by the Hoover
administration, the War and Navy
Departments spent $648, 149, 900. The
next year, Mr. Roosevelt's economy
cut expenditures to $540,358,000.
Necessary, Roosevelt Holds
From that time. however, and CO.
incident with many changes in the
world situation, expenditures have
risen steadily.
In 1885 they were $709, 1884, 900
Last year they were 1905, 1908, 900.
Next year they will be almost twice
as great as in 1884.
The total is larger than the
amounts expended for national de-
tense by Great Britain, France, or
any other nation.
President Roosevelt, in recon-
mending increased expenditures for
1897 explained them as necessary
Ito meet the policy of the Congress
and the executive in making up for
the delay by the United States in
bringing the Navy up to the
strength contemplated by the naval
treaties of 1922 and 1890, and to
provide replacement and improved
equipment and additional personnel
for the Army.
Increased Man Power
Under this program the Navy en-
listed strength is being increased
$500 to a total of 100000. Army
strength is being increased from
10000 to $4,000.
Adding together officers and men
in the Army and Navy, the Nation
al Guard and Coast Guard, West
Point and Annapolis cadets, the
total forces of the United States
number ABS, 500. II to these are
added reserve officers. the personnel
OF C. M. T. G. camps and school and
college students receiving military
training, the number of men in uni
form during the present fiscal year
Is sos, 400.
The House appropriations COM
mittee, calling attention to the size
of this years appropriations for the
Navy, pointed out that this was "in
consonance with the declared naval
policy to have and support a navy
second to none, subject of course to
any existing treaty provisions"
Planes to Be Increased
It continued:
THAT means navy afioat of
treaty proportions in all combatant
categories, an air force of requisite
size for employment Herewith, nee
essary auxiliary vessels, and prop
erly distributed and supplemented
supporting shore establishment"
The committee reports that the
number of vessels in commission will
increase during 1897 from an aver
age of 1923 to 3106, and that the
number of planes will advance from
95e to 1859.
The appropriation includes $780,
100000 for construction of ships. At
present "a are being rebuilt, three
aircraft carriers, IL cruisers, 13 de-
stroyers of more than 1900 tons and
40 of 1870 tons or less. and Is sub
marines. The new 1887 bill author
ICES construction of two large bat
tleships II any other nation begins
such construction, and Great Brit
ain has already declared her inten-
ton Of doing SO. An attempt in the
House to have these ships taken
from the bill got only rs votes.
Fifth in Air Power
The amount being spent by this
country on its Navy next year is
larger than figures for either Great
Britain or Japan. Britain plans to
spend 1896, 1886, 200 and Japan $780,
100000.
At present Great Britain's naval
strength is represented by 1888, l84
tons Of craft; the United States by
1,353,0s5 tons, and Japan by 866,654
tons.
However, this country ranks fifth
among the seven air powers of the
world according to 1.-THE Aircraft
Yearbook for 1886" 1t lists the
United States as having 2060 planes,
compared with $500 for France, 5000
for Russia, $500 for the British En-
pire, 1900 for Italy, 1850 for Japan
and 500 for Germany.