Arizona republican., 1917-12-15
GENERAL TRAINING
 |S NOT FAVORED BY
 SECRETARY OF WAR
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, D. C.. Dec. 14- Sec Ietarv Bakers annual report for the war department made public today, constitutes only a brief historical re- view of the year, ana so that it may be devoid of information for the enemy shows no recommendations. no detailed information of the transportation of the army to France or any army plans for the future.
 Secretary Baker does say. however, that he does not favor universal mili- tary training as a regular national policy
 The department has not aud does not now seek legislation on the sub ject,' he says. chiefly for the reason | that the formation Uc a permanent military policy win inevitably be af- ! fected by the arrangement consequent upon the termination of the present war. Civilized man must hope that the future has in store a relief from the burden of armament and the de- l struction and waste of war.
 | However vain that hope may ap- pear in the midst of the most devastat- ing and destructive war in the history | Of the race, 1t persists-perhapS be- cause we are encouraged by the anala- | gous substitution of courts for force in the settlement of private controversies: | perhaps because all the perfections of | nature teach us that they are the pro- duct of processes which have elimin- ated waste and substituted construct i've principles for destructive principles.
 When permanent military policy, therefore, comes to be adopted it will doubtless be conceived in spirit which will be adequate to preserve against any possible attack those vital prin- clpleS of liberty upon which democrat ! ic institutions are based, and yet be so | restrained as in no event to foster the growth of mere military ambitions or to excite the appre>iension of nations with whom it is our first desire to live in harmonious and just accord As to the expeditIonary force in | France, Secretary Baker says it would be unwise to disclose details and there | fore contents himser with telling of | the sending of General Pershing. fol l lowed by a full division of regular troops and a contingent of marines as the first units. He describes also the organization of the rainbow national | guard division, (he forty -secoud(, ad- | ding:
 "The purpose of this organization was to distribute the honor of early participation in the war over a wide area and thus satisfy in some part the eagerness of these state forces 10 | be permitted to serve in Europe"
 High tribute is paid to the splendid cooperation of the navy, by means of which these eXpeditiOnary forces have been safely transported and have been enabled to traverse without loss the so
 called danger zone infested by the stealthy and destructive submarine
 navy of the enemy
 If becane necessary Mir Baker says | to build up an elaborate transport sys- tenn for the expeditionary force. with great terminal facilities both in this country and in France and to gather a large surplus of supplies on the other side as a safeguard.
 This placed an added burden upon the supply divisions of the army" he said, and explains in part some of the shortages, notably those of clothing
 which have temporarily embarrassed
 mobilization of troops at home, embar-
 rassments now happily passed
 The arrangements made have result ed. MT. Baker continues, in the trans porting of an army to France fully equipped, with adequate reserves oi
 equipment and subslstence. and with these large quantities of transportation appliances. motor vehicles. railroad
 construction supplies and animals. all of which are necessary for the main
 Continued on Page Two)