The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-05
BAKER OUTLINES
NO ARMY POLICY
Refrains from Making Sug-
gestions as to Future
Operations
lBv Asaoeiated Press. !

Washington, Dec. 5.-The question
of permanent organization of the
army has been deferred for consi~
deration after the close of the peace
conference. Secretary Baker, in his
annual report made public last night,
says this course is determined upon
since the military needs of the Uni
| ted States cannot be prudently as
sessed until that conference shall
have determined the future interna-
tional relations of the world"
For temporary purposes, however,
Mr., Baker announces that he viii
lay before congress plan of reor-
ganization for the regular army,
which shall continue as the nucleus
OF any future military establish
ment."
The secretary also indicates his in
tention to press for perpetuation by
law of the strong general staff or
ganization built up during the war.
Il have refrained in this report, "
Mr.. Baker says, from making speci-
fic recommendations for future leg
islation for two reasons. In the first
place, the signing of the arnistice
has not formally closed the war. We
tablishment which can not be inn
mediately dissolved, and the activ-
tiles of the department for some time
at least must be concerned with
what we have. In the second place,
the peace conference is about to as
semble and the military needs of the
United States can not be prudently
assessed until that conference shall
have determined the future inteFna-
tional relations of the world. The
department will present to the con-
gress a plan for the maintenance of
a regular army which shall continue
as the nucleus of any future military
establishment, pending the time
when the experience through which
we have gone can be digested and
the future needs Of the nation ma
turely considered. f.-a ae
I'm any case it is clear that the
education of officers and a constant
study of the science of warfare will
be necessary, and it is my hope that
the great military academy at West
Point can be supplemented by an en-
largement and broadening of the
special schools which are at present
organized but should be made to take
on more the character of postgradu-
ate courses and to develop and train
research specialists in the several
arms. This subject, however, is one
upon which casual comment is not
helpful and I refer to it only because
it seems the one clear Indication
from our experience as to our future
policy"
The story of the American army's
part in the war overseas Secretary
Baker leaves very largely to General
Pershing, whose report covering op-
erations up to November 20, follow
ing the cessation of hostilities, is at
tached to that OF the secretary as is
the report of Chairman Fosdick of
the commission on training camp
activities. - - --t-~
IAN adequate account of the acti-
vities of the department for the year
now ending can be written" Mr.
Baker says. "only in the long reaches
of historical inquiry when there will
be time and opportunity to examine
in detail not merely statistical eX-
hibits which tell in numbers of men
and guns what America did, but also
to appraise the contributions of pa
triotic zeal and service which came
from field and factory, from civilian
and soldier alike and which rep
resent in their aggregate the life Of
the nation concentrated upon a
single purpose"
In his brief recital Of the events
of the war, Mr., Baker selects the
battle Of the Meuse as from the
viewpoint of military strategy,
Amerca'8 greatest contribution to the
successful outcome Of the war"