Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-12
MILITARY AFFAIRS
MADE TOO PUBLIC
Weeks of Massachusetts Tells Senate
Naval and Army Business Open
Book to All Possible Enemies.
CALLS FOR MORE PRIVACY
senator Declares Little More secrecy
and ReOrEaairation OF the Army
Are the Two Things Needed
Most of All.


that there has been too much publicity Of
military affairs OF the nation. Senator
Weeks Of Massachusetts in a speech in
the senate today opposed agitation for
special investigation OF military pre-
parednsss. praised the strength and per
sonnet of the navy and urged the organ
ization OF an army reserve.
ANY one may learn about our military
or naval establishment by reading the
reports Of the secretaries OF the depart
ments and the reports OF those who are
conducting the different bureaus and
branches OF the service" said the senator
'It is an open book to all our citizens
and there need be no doubt about our
relative position or our capabilities, II
one Is disposed to study reports instead
Of seeking notoriety IN the press.
Tn fact, there Is and has been alto
gether too much publicity In such mat
tiers. in my judgment. We have had a
demonstration during the present Eat-
ropean war OF the value Of secrecy In
conducting military operations and there
Is no reason why we should spread broad
cast what we are doing or what prepare
tons we have made.
Need More sscerey.
try is informed in the most minute de-
tail of our condition both on land ana
sea, and II any change In our methods
10 to be made It should not be in the az
rection OF greater publicity, but should
be to protect our operations even in time
Of peace from scrutiny both at home and
abroad"
While expressing the hope that the
European war would be the last great
war and that nations would "see the
folly Of maintaining such great military
establishments as great European coun-
tries have done, and that general agree
ment may be made which will provide
for at least q partial disarmament" Sen
ator Weeks maintained II was the part Of
wisdom to consider What course to fol-
low in case such a result should not
come. l.-, ->-
AT this time' he continued, eft does
not seem to me that IT is wise or prudent
to take any action which VIII change
our policy or add TO our naval equip
ment except by an omnibus appropriation
which can be expended under the direc-
ton OF the general board or the navy
and the president. Our naval establish
ment is in class with that Oh Germany
and France, and probably second only to
that OF Great Britain"
Would ReorEapize Army.
Senator Weeks maintained that the
army was insufficient and proposed its
reorganization not for the purpose Of in
creasing the permanent active army, but
for the Organization Of a reserve corps
/ which would make available large fotcas
/ of trained soldiers at all times. ~
| f'If the military experts are right" he
said, that the country, needs a force of
50e 200 trained usen supplemented by from
10000 10 100000 volunteers 10 give II q
reasonable chance OF protection against q
foe, and that the 10000 men will be
needed at once on the outbreak OF war
organized as fighting mRchlnes-it would
appear that the defense provided 81
present by congress- Ia inadequate and
practically worthless. and that the
moneys spent on this defense are largely
wasted" = "a ~ s.f
Through lreseEPe, system Senator
Weeks maintained that a much Isrge
trained army eonld,be maintained at les
sxpenss than permanent standing arm!
now. As -4r ~" "
start work at once.
II believe" the senator said, that law
tshould be passed at once, which will re
organize the regular army. This reor
ganiEation should give to the mobile arm
the proportion of infantry, field artillery
cavalry. engineers, signal. sanitar
: troops. the needed ammunition and sup
Q ply trains, and provide for properl
0 equipped deots.
Q THE law must royide that the me
serve the shortest time with the color
necessary 10 train them as soldiers, an
5 then pass them as soon as trained to
: reserve. and that while serving in thi
I reserve the men must be paid Make tn
\ enlistment age Is TO 2l: with consent Q
! parents and Is as a limit for first enlist
' ment." Goes.
! In addition, to the national reserve fore
: Senator Weeks would have a similar re
serve organized under the state militi
q and urged laws 20 provide skilled militar