Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-11
WEEKS STANDS
| WITH WILSON IN
DEFENSE POLICY
Senator Fights Investigation of
Military Preparedness, Urg-
ing Army Reserve.

WASHINGTON, Dec. f1t.-Declar-
Ing that there has been too much
publicity Of military affairs of the
nation, Senator Weeks, of Massa-
rhusetts, in q speech in the Senate
Today opposed agitation for special
Investigation of military prepared
ness praised the strength and per-
sonnel of the navy and urged the
organization of an army reserve.
Anyone may learn about our mill
tary or naval establishment by read
ing the reports of the secretaries of
The departments and the reports of
I those who are conducting the differ
ent bureaus and branches of the
service said the senator. ut is an
) open book to all our citizens and
there need be no doubt about our
relative position or our capabilities
if one is disposed to study reports
instead of seeking notoriety In the
press.
"In fact, there is and has been
altogether too much publicity in
such matters, in my judgment. We
have had a demonstration during
the present European war of the
value of secrecy in conducting mill
tary operations, and there Is no rea-
son why we should spread broadcast
what we are doing or what prepara-
tions we have made. have. no
doubt every European country is in
formed in the most minute detail
of our condition both on land and
sea, and If any change in our
methods Is to be made it should not
be in the direction Of greater pub
licity, 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 mill
tary establishments as great Eu-
ropean countries have done, and
that a general agreement may be
made which will provide for at least
a partial disarmament" Senator
Weeks maintained II was the part
Of wisdom to consider what course
TO follow in case such result
should not come.
Change of Policy Unwise.
AT this time" he continued, "it
does not seem to me that it is wise
OF prudent to take any action which
will change cur policy or add to our
naval equipment except by an omni-
bus approximation which, can be ex-
pended under the direction of the
general board of the navy, with the
approval of the secretary of the navy
and the President. Based on the
experience OF the past, our naval es-
tablishment is in a class with that
of Germany and France, and prob
ably second only to that of Great
Britain
Senator Weeks maintained that the
army was insufficient and proposed
its reorganization not for the pur-
pose of increasing the permanent
active army, but for the organization
Of a reserve corps which would make
available large forces of trained sol
diers at all times. IF the military
experts are right" he said, that the
country needs a force of 10000
trained men, supplemented by from
one hundred thousand to two hun
dred thousand volunteers to give it a
reasonable chance of protection
against a proba BILE foe, and that the
100000 men will be needed at once
on the outbreak of war-organized as
lighting machines-it would appear
that the defense provided at present
by Congress is inadequate and prac-
tically worthless. and that the mon
eys spent on this defense are largely
wasted"
Urges Reserve System.
Through a reserve system Senator
Weeks maintained that much larger
trained army co1ld be maintained at
less expense than a permanent stand
ing army now.
II believe" said the senator, that
laws should be passed at once which
will reorganize the regular army.
This reorganization should give to
the mobile army the proper propor-
tion of infantry, field artillery, cav
airy engineers, signal, sanitary
troops, the needed ammunition and
supply trains, and provide for prop
erly equipped depots.
THE law must provide that the
men serve the shortest time with
the colors necessary to train them
as soldiers, and then pass them as
soon as trained to reserve. and that
while serving in this reserve, the men
must be paid. Make the enlistment
age IS to q, with consent of par
ents, and 25 as limit for first enlist