The Washington times., 1918-01-10

| proceeding rapidly, and its spirit is
high. The subsistence OF the army
has been above criticism: its initial
clothing supply. temporarily made
quate, Is now substantially complete,
and reserves will rapidly accumulate.
Arms OF the most modern and ef-
fective kind-including artillery, ma
chine guns, automatic rifles, and
| small arms-have been provided by
! manufacture or purchase for every
soldier in France, and are available
| for every soldier who can be gotten
to France in the year 1918.
Il. A substantial army Is already IN
France. where both men and officers
have been additionally and specially
trained and are ready for active SER
vice.
20. Independent lines of communi-
cation and supply and vast storage
and other facilities are in process of
construction in France
&c. Great programs for the manu-
facture OF additional equipment and
for the production Of new instruments
OF war have been formulated.
SIse and Speed.
-. No army OF similar size in the
history OF the world has ever been
raised, equipped, or trained so quick
ly. No such provision has every been
made for the comfort, health, and
general well-being of an army. The
health report for December. for a
variety Of reasons, became suddenly
less favorable than for the preced-
ing months: but the unfavorable con-
ditions have been met and improve
ment is already apparent.
Il state the fpraUpIp1
the War Departments problem, and
some of the results attained, for two
purposes. In the first place. the Amer
lean people are entitled to know of
the splendid effectiveness with which
they have been able to organize the
man power and the material power
OF the nation in great cause: and,
second. our army in France under
General Pershing and our allies are
entitled TO have the benefit resulting
from the depression OF the morale OF
their enemies which must come when
the Germans realize that tho Amer.
lean democracy has neither blundered
nor hesitated, but has actually
brought the full power OF its men and
resources into completely organized
strength against their military ma
chine
81 make this statement fully aware
that there have been produced before |
the members OF this committee some
expressions OF doubt. difference OF |
opinion. and disapproval The War
Department has spent eight months I
hearing similar expressions, anaIyz- |
Ing them, correcting the conditions |
out OF which they grew. perfecting its |
organization to prevent their recur- /
renee: and all the while driving on to |
the accomplishment OF the main task |
Work Appreciated.
MY military associates and / appre-
ctate the work which this committee
has done, and will value suggestions
from the committee as a whole, from
Its individual members, and from
every other patriotic citizen which
will enable us to carry on this work
more effectively and more rapidly.
I'm the foregoing statement there
are two exceedingly significant fig
Ires. namely: That on the LIST day of
April the ordnance department con.
sisted OF % officers and the quar-
termaster generals depa OF 347
officers. while they now. respectively
comprise 3.044 and 643l officers
There was no ready trained body OF
men in the country who could have
been selected suddenly to assume the
highly technical and specialized work
IF these two divisions. Men Of some
what similar training had to be
chosen, and the nucleus Of officers
llready in those corps had not only
% carry forward the expanding op-
'rations OF their departments. but be
rainers and teachers to their new
associates. As the work proceeded.
and resubdivision became
possible
"On December 10, the questions OF
initial supply and organization OF
personnel had been substantially dis
'osed of. and ] was. therefore. in a
position. as had not been previously,
o announce a general reorganization.
.iready carefully studied. which &C
emphasizes the following results:
Wnr Council CreRted.
81. Created a We. council. upon
Thich General Crozler. General
hsrpe, General Weaver. General
and the chief OF staff have
cen designated to sit with the Sec
etary OF War and the Assistant Sec
etary Of War. and 10 which council
zen of capacity. either from the army :
r from civil life. will he added from
ime TO time. The purpose OF the
ouncil Is that it's members, being