The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-15

I In store q reflex Gr@4n Una @4&@@M y.
armament and the destruction ana
waste Of war.
pear I'm the midst Of the most
devastating and destructive war IN
the history Of the race IL pera1Sts-
perhaps because We are encourage
BY the amainEouH substitution q
courts for force in the settlement OF
private controversies perhaps De-
cause all the perfections OF nature
teach us that they are the product
OF processes which have eliminated
waste and substituted CONSTRUCTIVE
for destructive principles.
The heN Maikary Policy
4 when q permanent military
policy, therefore, comes 20 be adopt
ed, IL via doubtless be conceived in
spirit which win be adequate 20
preserve against any possible at
/ tack thosa vital principles OF liberty
upon which democratic institutions
are based, and yet be 50 restrained
as in no event to foster the growth
OF mere militarist ambitions or 20
excite the apprehension OF nations
with whom 1t il our nrst desire 20
live in harmonious and Just accord.
As to the expeditionary force in
Trance, Secretary Baker says u
would be unwise to disclose details
I and therefore contents himself with
telling of the sending Of General
Pershing, followed by 3 fun division
OF regular troops and q contingent
OF marines as the first units. he
describes also the organization o. the
Rainbow National guard division,
| (The Forty-second). adding:
The purpose OF this organization
was to distribute the honor OF early
&sKfw 7rsra In a
area and thus to satisfy In some
part the eagerness OF these state
forces 20 be permitted 70 serve IN
Europe"
Praises The Navy.
High tribute Is paid to the "spien-
did cooperation Of the navy, by
means OF which these expeditionaTy
forces have been safely transported
and have been enabled 20 traverse
without loss the so-called danger
zone infested by the stealthya and
destructive submarine navy OF the
enemy"
II became necessary, Mr.. Baker
says, to build up an elaborate trans
port system for the expeditionary
force with great terminal facilities
both in this country and In France
and to gather q large surplus Of
supplies on the other side as safe-
guard.
Mobilization Embarrassed.
'This placed an added burden
upon the supply divisions OF the de-
partment," he says 'and explains
In part some Of the shortages not
ably those OF clothing, which have
temporarily embarrassed mohiltza-
ton OF troops at home, embarrass-
ments now happily passed"
The arrangements made have re-
suited, Mr.. Baker continues, in the
transporting Of an army 20 France
fully equipped, with adequate re-
serves OF equipment and subsistence,
and with those large quantities OF
transportation appliances, motor
vehicles, railroad construction sup
plies and animals. all or which arc
necessary for the maintenance OF
effective operations Of the force"
Secretary Baker opens his report
with a review Of the situation in
Mexico which led up to the with
drawal of General Pershings col
umn, and pays a high compliment TO
the aelf-restraint and consideration
Of the American officers and soldiers
both on the border and I'm Mexico.
The American Spirit.
Taking up the war with Germany
Secretary Baker describes a fine
spirit of service shown BY the
American people without distinc-
ton of age. sex or occupation"
Those who believed" he adds.
that the obvious and daily exhibit
ton Of power which takes place in
an autocracy is necessary for ma
tional strength, discovered that q
finer, and freer, and greater national
strength subsists in a free people, |
and that the silent processes of /
democracy, with their normal accent |
on the freedom Of individuals, never |
theless AFFORD springs Of collective
action and inspiration for self-sac-
rihcs as wide and effective as they
are spontaneous"
Mr.. Baker then turns TO the meth |
cd by which the army was placed /
on a war footing. he shows that /
under its full authorized strength /
the regular army includes $4,000 Of
ficers and 100000 men and that the /
war strength contemplated by the /
national defense act for the nation /
al guard was $4,000 officers and
$4,000 men. With the million adj
ditional troops OF the selected draft
the army OF 100000 men upon
which all original war estimates
were based.
Lauds National Guard.
Il
The secretary describes the draft.
ing OF the national guard which he
says responded with zeal and en- (
thusiasm" TO the call. He describes
also the expansion OF the regular \
army and reviews the reasons which
prompted the government to so to
selective CONSUMPTION for the re-
mainder OF its forces.
The report then touches briefly
the construction Of cantonments, II
with the problems encountered and
solved through the cooperation Of II
the civilian agencies created by the
council OF national defense. and
goes into some detail with various
phases Of the cautonment question
70 show the enormous size OF the II
task. The building Of national guard
division camps il similarly cited and
Mr.. Baker discusses at some length
the work OF the training camps II
create wholesome surroundings for
the troops.
The aviation program is touched
upon briefly and no additional in-
formation is given. The engineer
department and the part it played in
rushing technical aid to the allies is
outlined and Secretary Baker re-
news his Recommendation for
more adequate engineer school with
suggestion that congress plan for
both engineer and ordnance educa-
ton IN a broad and generous spirit
In order 70 create scientific agencies
Of value in peace OF war and where
graduates OF West Point specialize.
The suggestion is presented for
future consideration rather than
immediate action and no detailed
plan is unfolded.