Evening star., 1940-07-28

became the national policy
When the United States Army was
demobilized highly trained officers
and men running into the millions
were dismissed Arsenals and depots
| were heaped high with military
stores and equipment adequate for
| the support of force of the di-
mensions demobilized. Industry was
then geared to maintain the de-
mands of such force under war
conditions. This Nation, no doubt,
was safe in placing dependence upon
such reservoir of personnel and
| materiel for number of years TO
! come. That this Nation stretched
| that dependence too far is today
markedly apparent. Age has levied
a heavy toll n Materiel had de-
Perforated and become outmoded.
For the trained force of men avail
able in the early 20s but a mere
nucleus is now ready to take their
| places and with but Scant training
under simulated war conditions.
There was an awakening as to
the need for strong Navy in 1888
| The Army, on the other hand, was
! left to mark time-With the pos
sible exception of aviation-until
early in 1899
The enlisted strength of the Army
i declined to 1880 and did not go
above such number until the fiscal
+ year 1886. In 1885 out of a total
force of 1922 men there were
+ but 88.207 in the Continental United
States, scattered over some 15O-odd
military posts and stations all over
the country. Many of this number,
Of course, were attached to non
combat outfits. The whole number
was little more than post mainte-
nance staffs.
Need Recognized.
For 1885 the Federal budget in
cluded but s671 300 for mechaniza-
ton. The House Appropriation,
Committee added S2119,2OO to the
| estimates in order quoting from
its reporD that at least some SEM
blance OF start may be made to
equip the Army with modern COM
bat cars for cavalry, providing the
infantry with some tanks that will
effectively and efficiently function,
and in providing a reasonable sup
ply of automatic rifles"
! In 1885 the authorized airplane
strength was 1900, established in
/ the Air Corps Act in 1926 On Sep
tember 30, 1885. the Army was in
possession Of 766 combat airplanes,
including observation planes in such
category.
1t was not until 1885 that the
Army had It's first peace-time test
OF command under simulated cam
paign, which has since been carried
forward from year to year in in
creasing nature and scope, thereby
giving practical experience in the
direction of the armed forces under
make-believe battle conditions.
The year 1885 may be said to
have been the turning point in the
Army's backward march. From then
forward grants of funds began to
climb. In 1885 the total appropria-
ton for the military esta blishment
was 1921 100000 plus an allotment
of $8,900,0O0 from Federal emer-
gency funds. OF this Sl3,033 ,00C
went into building up the air corps
and $8,373,0O0 from the regular ap-
preparation and S50O000 from emer-
gency funds went into improve
mentS for the rest of the Army.
In 1896 the total appropriation
was s355,000000 plus 100000
from the emergency funds. Of this
$30,057,0 900 went into air corps anc
S24, 4,l2l 900 INTO other Army i'm
provements.
In 1887 the regular appropriation
was s388,00O00O plus 100000
from emergency funds. OF this
43,677000 went into air corps anc
$l9,538,000 into other Army i'm
provements.
In 1888 the regular appropriation
was s4l70Oo,00o plus s5O.6O0.0 .0oC
from emergency funds. OF this
! $43 ,29l 900 went into air corps anc
l5,626,000 into other Army i'm
provements.
In 1889 the regular appropriation
was S460,000,000 plus s125,900,OOO
from emergency funds. OF this
$54 ,408,000 went into Air Corps and
s30,151 900 into other Army i'm
provements.
In 1910 the regular appropriation
was 1928, 100000. plus $4,000 ,0OC
from emergency funds. Of this
$202 1896, 900 went into air corps ano
S118,033,000 into other Army i'm
provements.
Modernization Funds.
During the last 16 fiscal years
1925-1940, inclusive, a bare 5.6 per
cent of the total appropriations for
military activities of the Army
S344, ,656,000, was available for aug
mentation, moderniZation, motor
iZation, mechanization and equip
ment-the building up-of the
Army's ground forces, despite the
fact that the useful life of much
military equipment scarcely exceeds
five years. During the same period
83 per cent of the total appropria-
tions was spent on development of
the air corps, a comparatively new
but vital branch of the land forces,
$500 900 900 for new aircraft, spare
engines and parts. More than half
that amount was appropriated in the
last two years-$54, ,408, 900 in 1899,
and by far the largest amount
s202, 1896, ,000-during the fiscal year
just closed.
Commencing in 1886 provision
was made for increasing the enlisted
strength of the Army from 1l8,750