South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-05
Permanent Army for u. S. to
Be Considered After Farley

WASHINGTON. Dec 5.-The
question OF permanent organization
Of the army has been deferred for
consi Iteration after the close OF the
peace conference. Sec'y Baker, in
his annual report made public to-
night. says this course is determined
upon since "the military needs Of
the United States cannot be prudent
Is assessed until that conference
shall have determined the future in
ternational relations OF the world"
For temporary purposes however.
Mr.. Baker announces that he VIII
lay before congress plan Of re-
organization Tor the regular army.
which shall continue as the nucleus
OF any future military establish
ment"
The secretary also indicates his
intention 20 press for perpetuation
by law OF the strong general staff
organization built up during the
war.
81 have RETAINED in this report"
Mr. Baker says. from making spe-
ciic recommendation for future
legislation for two reasons In the
first place. the signing of the armis-
tice has not formally closed the war.
We have at present a great military
esta bIishment which can not be inn
mediately dissolved. and the activ-
tiles OF the department for some
time az least must be concerned
with what we have In the second
place. the peace conference is about
10 assemble and the military needs
OF the United States can not be pru-
IDENTIFY assessed until that conference
shall have determined the future in
ternational relations Of the world.
The department viii present 10 the
congress a plan for the maintenance
OF a regular army which shall con-
tinue as the nucleus OF any future
military establishment. pending the
time when the experience through
which we have gone can be digest
ed and the future needs Of the ma
ton maturely considered
Officers Education Necessary.
I'm any case it is clear that the
education Of officers and a constant
study OF the science 0f warfare viii
be necessary, and il is my hope that
the great Military Academy at West
Point can be supplemented by an
enlargement and broadening of the
special schools which are at pres
emit organized but should be made TO
take on more the character Of post
graduate courses and 10 develop and
train research specialists i'm the sew
eraI arms. This subject. however,
IS one upon which casual comment
Is not helpful and 7 refer to it only
because IL seems the one clear in
dication from our experience as to
our future policy"
The story OF the American army s
part I'm the war overseas Sec'y Baker
leaves very largely TO Gen. Perish
ing. whose report covering opera
tions up TO Nov. 90. following the
cessation Of hostilities. is attached
90 that Of the secretary as is the re-
port Of Chairman Fosdick Of the
Commission on Training Camp Act
ivities
can adequate account OF the act
ivities OF the department for the
year now ending can be written. 4"
Mr.. Baker says. "only in the long
reaches Of historical inquiry when
there will be time and opportunity
TO examine in detail not merely sta
tistical exhibits which tell in num-
bers OF men and guns what America
did but also TO appraise the contribu-
lions OF patriotic zeal and service
which came from field and factory,
from civilian and soldier alike and
which represent in their aggregate
the life Of the nation concentrated
Cd lfwcrTa r,rfrwOen
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, Am
erica's greatest contribution to the
successful outcome Of the war %
since by that attack Of the American
armies the Sedan-Nezieres railway,