Imperial Valley press., 1918-12-07
BAKERS ANNUAL REPORT
fBy Associated Press

. Washing on. Dec. 4.-Iho QutSllon
of permanent organizatio of he army
has been deferred for consideration
after tbs close of the peace confer
ence. Secretary Baker, in his annual
report made public tonight, says This
course is determined upon since "lhe
military needs of the Unitsd Siales
cannot be prudently assessed until
that conference shall have determined
the future international relations OF
the world"
For temporary purposes, however,
Mr.. Baker announces thai he will lay
before Congress plan of reorganiza-
ton for the regular army, (which
shall continue "a the nucleus of any
future military establishment"
The Secretary also indicates his in
tention 10 press for perpetuation BY
law of the strong general sjaff or
ganization built up during the war.
81 have refrained in this report, "
Mr.. Baker SAYS, ''from making spe-
cifc recommendations for future leg
islation for two reasons. In the first
place, the signing of the a1mistice has
not formally closed The war. We have
+ al present a great military establish
r7ent which can not be immediale ely
dissolved. and the activities cf he d.
parjment for some time a laa-l mus
be concerned with what We have. In
the second place, The pe8ce conference
is about 10 assemble ard the military
needs of The United States can mol
be prudenily assessed until that con-
ference shall have determined The fu-
ture international relations of the
world. The department will present
to The Congress a plan for The main
tenance Of a regular army which shall
continue as The nucleus Of any future
military establishment, pending the
time when the experience throush
which we have gone can be digested
and The future needs of the nation
maturely considered.
''In any case it is clear that the
education of officers and a constant
study Of The science of warfare will
be necessary. ani il is my hope that
the great military academy al Wes
Point can be supplemented b. IN en-
larsement and broadening Of h. spe-
cial schools which are at present or
ganized but should be mad 10 lake
on more he character of po,t-gradu-
ale courses and 10 develop and train
research specialists in the several
arms. This subject, however, j, one
upon which casual commenj is not
helpful ana | refer 10 il only because
il seems the one clear indication from
our experience as 10 our future pool
icy"
"An adequate account Of IN aclivi-
les of the department for tn Var
now endin@ can be written" Mr..
Baker SAYS, "only in he long reaches
Of historical inquiry when here will
bc time and opportunity 10 examine
ir deiail nor merely statistical eX-
hibiis which ell in numbers Of men
and guns what America did, but also
10 appr5iSe The con,ribu ions Of patri-
oJic zeal and service which came from
field and factory from civilian and
soldier alike and which represent in
their aggregate the life Of the naiion
concent trat ed upon . single purpose ~
In Ills brief rectal Of Inc events Of
The war, r. Baker selects he battle Of
he Meuse as ''from the viewpoint Of
military strategy Americas greatest
con- trihUiiOn 10 the successful outcome
OF me war, SlNCe D. ma d tdck OF
The American armies the Sedan Mez'
ierse railway, he main artery of tho
German supply system. was cut. TIL
entire available strength of he Amer
lean army in France, 28 divisions
were in lne in he second waei, d
October, he SAYS, making yarj by yalc
pro@rcss agains desperate enerny 70
sistance which firali} Nas worn cUl
"and on November ] thc AmercIr
troops broke Trough" The 0bie-t
Of the drive The strategic conc splicr
Of which included he British driyr
al the northern end of the railwa}
system and he French advance in tn
cenjer, was accomplished on Novem-
Der when the Americans entered the
outskirts of Sedan o be joined here
tie nexl day by ha French.
In skejching he building up of The
war army, Mr.. Baker selects few
striking figures as illus raIion Of
whal each step meant and what has
been accomplished. On Tie DAY he