New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
Secretary Says Outcome of
War Will Settle u. S.
Military Needs
Reviews Work of
The Last Year
Withholds Details to Pre-
vent Enemy From Get
ting Information

WASHINGTON, Dec. II. -- Secretary
Bakers annual report for the War De-
partment made public to-day consti-
tutes only a brief historical review o..
the year, and so that il may be devoid
OF information for the enemy shows
no recommendations, no detailed in
formation 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 mill
tary training as a regular national
policy.
"The department has not sought and
does not now seek legislation on the
subject" he says, "chiehy for the rea-
son that the formation of permanent
military policy will inevitably be af-
fected by the arrangement consequent
upon the termination of the present
war. Civilized men must hope that the
future has in store relief from the
burden of armament and the destruc
tion and waste Of war.
"However vain that hope may appear
in the midst of the most devastating
and destructive war In the history of
the race, it persists, perhaps because
we are encouraged by the analogous
substitution of courts for force in the
settlement of private controversies;
perhaps because all the projections Of
nature teach us that they arc the prod
uct of processes which have eliminated
waste and substituted constructive for
destructive principles.
"When a permanent military policy,
therefore, comes TO be adopted, il will
doubtless be conceived in a spirit which
will be adequate TO preserve against
any possible attack those vital prin-
ciples of liberty upon which democratic
institutions are based, and yet be so
restrained as in no event to foster the
growth of mere militarist ambitions or
20 excite the apprehension of nations
with whom it is our first desire to live
in harmonious and just accord"
Praises Rainbow Division.
As to the expeditionary force in
France, Secretary Baker says il would
be unwise to disclose details and there
fore contents himself With telling Of
the sending of General Eershing, fol-
lowed by a full division of regular
troops and a contingent Of marines as
the first units. He describes also the
organization of the Rainbtw National
Guard division, the Forty-yecond, ad-
ding:
was to distribute the homo, of early
participation in the war oSr wide
area and thus to satisfy in some part
the eagerness of these state forces to
be permitted to serve in Europe
Taking up the war with Germany
Secretary Baker describes fine spirit
Of service shown by the American
people without distinction of age, sex
or occupation"
Those who believed" he adds, chat
the obvious and daily exhibition of
power which takes place in an autoc-
racy is necessary for national strength,
discovered that a finer and freer and
greater national strength subsists in a
free people, and that the silent
processes of democracy, with their nor
NAL accent on the freedom of indi-
collective action and inspiration for
self-sacrifce as wide and effective as
they are spontaneous
Mr.. Baker then turns to the method
By which the army was placed on
war footing He shows that under its
full authorized strength the regular
army includes $4,000 officers and 47O,-
600 men and that the war strength con-
templated by the national defense act
for the national guard was $4,000 Of
ficers and $4,000 men. With the mil
lion additional troops of the selected
draft army added, these figures fur
nish the army of 100000 men upon
which all original war estimates were
based.
The secretary describes the drafting
of the National Guard, which he says
responded with zeal and enthusiasm"
to the call. He describes also the ex-
pansion of the regular army and re-
views the reasons which prompted the
government to go TO selective conscrip-
ton for the remainder of its forces.