The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-11
But Senator Declares
Too Much Publicity
Is Given to Nations S
Military Affairs
PERSONNEL OF
NAVY PRAISED
Says Naval Establishment Is in Glass
With That of Germany and France
and Second Only to That of Great
Britain

Washington, Dec. 11.-Declaring
that there has been too much publicity
of the military affairs of the nation,
Senator Weeks, of Massachusetts,, in a
speech in the Senate to-day opposed
agitation for special investigation of
military preparedness, praised the
strength and personnel of the navy
and urged the organization of an army
reserve.
Any one may learn about our mill
tary or naval establishment by reading
the reports of the secretaries of the
Departments and the reports of those
who are conducting the different bu-
reaus 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 if one is disposed to
study reports instead of seeking no.
toriety in the press.
Value of Secrecy Apparent
In fact, there is and has been al
together too much publicity in such
matters. in my judgment. We have
had demonstration during the pres
creey in conducting military operations
and there is no reason why we should
spread broadcast what We are doing or
what preparations we have made [
have no doubt every European country
is informed 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 di-
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 nations would ''see the folly
of maintaining such great military es-
adjustments as great European coun.
tries have done and that general
agreement will be made which viii pro-
vide for at least partial disarma-
ment, Senator Weeks maintained it
was the part of wisdom to consider
what course to follow in case such a
result should not come.
Not Wise to Change Policy
At this time he continued, "it
does not seem to me that it is wise or
prudent to take any action which will
change our policy or add to our naval
equipment except by an omnibus appro-
priation which can be expended under
the direction of the general board of
the navy, with the approval of the
Secretary of the Navy and the Presi-
dent. Based on the experience of the
past, our naval establishment is in
class with that of Germany and France
and probably second only to that of
Great Britain.''
Senator Weeks maintained that the
army was insufficient and proposed its
reorganization not for the purpose of
increasing the permanent, the active,
army but for the organization of a re-
serve corps which would make avail
able large forces of trained soldiers
at all times. eff the military experts
are right he said, "that the country
needs force of 100000 trained men
supplemented by from one hundred
thousand to two hundred thousand vol
unteers to give it a reasonable chance
of protection against a probable foe,
and that the 100000 men will be
hCCdtu AT oHCe On t0e outbreak OF war
organized as fighting machine-it
would appear that the defense provided
at present by Congress is inadequate
and practically worthless, and that the
moneys spent on this defense are large
ly wasted
Would Reorganize Regular Army
81 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 proportion of
infantry, field artillery, cavalry, engi-
neers, signal, sanitary troops, the
needed ammunition and supply trains,
and provide for properly equipped de-
pots. 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 a reserve, and that while serving
in this reserve the men must be paid.
Make the enlistment aged is to 81,
with consent of parents, and 25 as lin.
it for first enlistment.
In addition to the national reserve
force the Senator would have a similar
reserve organized under the State mil,
itia and urged laws to provide skilled
military trainers for voluptaars