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Show The proposals call for not only a reduction re-duction in the number of officers in the army, but reducing the number of enlisted men 8,000, suspending the Citizens' M litary Training camps and drastically curtailing the Reserve Officers' Of-ficers' activities. Such action, according accord-ing to Secretary Hurley, would be a grave mistake in the present state of world feeling. The American people favor economy econ-omy in government but not at the expense ex-pense of the national safety, and our legislative officials would do well to keep this in mind. DON'T WEAKEN NATIONAL DEFENSE. With the renewal of difficulties in the Far East in a critical form and the growing conviction that militarism militar-ism is rapidly developing in Japan, more and more people are beginning to view with doubt many of the proposals pro-posals which, advocated for the sake of economy, are believed to endanger the strength and efficiency of the army and navy of the United States. America will never engage in an offensive of-fensive war, but every American believes be-lieves that we should maintain an adequate defense. Several proposals, supposedly in the interest of economy, have been advanced. One of these would consolidate consoli-date the War and Navy departments on the theory that this would make for economy. That there is grave official of-ficial doubt of this can be gathered from the words of Secretary of the Navy Adams when he appeared before be-fore the House Committee on Expenditures Expen-ditures a few days ago. In part, Secretary Sec-retary Adams is quoted as saying: "No other country of any size in the world has adopted such a scheme as this. i "The presumption throughout the world is strong that no economy can be effected. England has tried twice, and the case here should first be proved prov-ed against the presumption. Separate set-ups are necessary, the whole his- 1 tory of management shows. I "The man in charge of either service ser-vice must have the power to act quickly and act with authority. By creating a 'higher-up' this could not be done. Put another man over the chief of the army or navy and you ruin his efficiency. You are going in-the in-the wrong direction on the theory of economy. It is wrong. "Think of the political organization that one man would have. You are creating a tremendous power against the principle of good government." Doubtless Congress will go slowly before inaugurating so radical a change as this in our defensive machinery. ma-chinery. Another proposal, calling for drastic dras-tic reduction of the army personnel, and this, too, has been objected to by supporters of the administration who believe that such a course would be not only false economy but a roil danger to the security of the country. Disapproval of such a step was made recently, according to newspaper reports, re-ports, by Secretary of War Hurley when he called on Speaker Garner. |