New-York tribune., 1918-12-05
Permanent L. S.
Army Depends
On Peace Plan
p.ker's Report Shows Power
a, Peak i'm l9 Months,
England's in 3 Years
Had l0,634 Gun Units
growning's Performance
Under Severe Tests Wins
Praise From Our Troops

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4. -~ The ques-
t;on of permanent organization of the
.r,,,v has been deferred for considera-
ZION after the close Of the peace con-
fsrence. Secretary Baker, in his an
,,rei renort made public tonight, says
this course is determined upon since
otbe military needs of the United
States cannot be prudently assessed
until that conference shall have de-
termined the future international re-
lations of the world"
For temporary purposes, however,
Mr.. Baker announces that he Will lay
before Congress plan of reorganiza-
ton for the Regular Army, (which
shall continue as the nucleus of any
future military establishment"
The Secretary also indicates his in
tention to press for perpetuation by
law of the strong General Staff organi-
zation built up during the war.
Il have refrained in this report,
Mr.. Baker says, from making speclhc
recommendations for future Legislation
for two reasons. In the first place
the signing of the armistice has not
formally closed the war. We nave at
present q great military establishment
which cannot be Immediately dlssolveo'
and the activities of the department
for some time az least must be con-
cerned with what we have.
IN the second place, the peace con
ference is about to assemble and the
military needs OF the United States
cannot be prudently assessed until tisat
conference shall have determined me
future international relations OF the
world.
The department will present to the
Congress a plan for the maintenance
of Regular Army which shall con-
tnue as the nucleus of any future
military establishment, pending the
time when the experience through
which we have gone can be dlges.eu
and the future needs of the nation
maturely considered.
U. S. Army's Part in War
"In any case it is clear that the
education OF officers and constant
study of the science of warfare wlll
be necessary, and it is my hope that
the great military academy, at west
Point can be supplemented by an en-
larqement and broadening of the spe-
cial schools which are at present or
canized but should be made to take on
more the character OF postgraduate
courses and to develop and train re-
search specialists in the several arms.
can adequate account of the actlvl-
ties of the department for the year
now ending can be wr>~5en, Mr.. Baker
says, "only in the long reaches OF MS
torical inquiry when there Will be
time and opportunity to examine III
detail not merely statistical eXhlblt5
which tell in numbers of men and guns
what America did, but also to appralse
the contributions of patriotic zeal and
service which came from field and fac~
tory, from civilian and soldier alike
and which represent in their aggregate
the life of the nation concentrated
upon 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, Americas great
est contribution to the successful out
come of the war; since by that at
tack of the American armies the Sedan
Mezieres railway, the main artery OF
the German supply system, was cut.
The entire available strength of the
American army in France, % divisions,
were in line in the second week OF
October, he says, making yard by yard
progress against desperate enemy re-
sistence which finally was worn out
and on November /, the American
trops broke through" The object OF
the drive the strategic conception of
which included the British drive at
the northern end of the railway sys-
tenn and the French advance in the
center, was accomplished on November
when the Americans entered the out
skirts of Sedan to be joined there the
next day by the French.
History Reversed
he meeting of French and Amer
lcan troops on this historic spot" Mr..
Baker says, "signalized the defeat of
the German arms, a defeat as decisive
and Illuminating as that forced upon
france Al years before at the same
spot. If there had been questions be-
fore as to the acceptance of the arm
lstce terms, the allied advance cul-
mlnating in this meeting at Sedan left
no choice in the matter"
In sketching the building I'm of tbo
war army, Mr.. Baker selects few
striking hgugures as illustrations of
what each step meant and what has
been accomplished. On the dav the
armistice was signed, he declares more
than 20 per cent of the entire male
population of the country between the
ages of l8 and 81 was in the military
service, the army having reached y