Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-24
ARMY Of 100000 )
MEN SUFFICIENT :
MARCH DECLARES
. q This Size, Backed BY
@4''qI1 'i9sagl5qsoa a 'itaTy Training
to Supp, ,'eN eNReVerseS, viii
Meet Requirements.
sy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED VII

Washington. Nov 22--A standing
army Of about 100000 men backed by
a universal military training system
to supply reserves would meet the
peace time requirements of the United
States, Gen. Pevton c. March. chief OF
staff declared in his annual report.
made public Saturday and which
probably forecasts recommendations
to be made by the war department
when congress reconvenes
Il General March founded his judE-
ment on lessons of the world war.
That proved cOnclusively, he said.
that ability to be self-sustaining for
an indefinite period. provided the
army was adequately prepared, was
the nations greatest military asset.
So far as purely naval operations
are concerned, he added, the United
States has nothing to fear from ANY
conceivable combination" Of naval
/ powers; but must be prepared to pre-
vent seizure of bases by an enemy
controlling the sea and intent on land
! ing troops.
\ without the possession of such
! bases in France" the report said, I'VE
could not have landed our army. ir-
! respective of the fact that the allies
I had ContrOl or the sea.
| General March recommended fix
| ing the strength of the regular army
! at five army corps. maintained at half
strength in peace times, The pro-
posals the department presented ten
! tatively to congress during the special
| session called for 100000 men, and
! the statement of the chief OF staff
was taken to indicate that this would
! be scaled down to 100000.
| Staff System Defended.
| The report defended the present
staff system with authority centraliz-
ed in the chief of staff Proof of its
efficiency could be found, 1t said. in
| the fact that the United States had
sent more than 100000 men and
vast supplies overseas. thus becoming
"a positive factor in the military ac-
| tlons of the war"
Il am convinced" General March
said, that without a properly organ
lied and efficient general staff with
authority to formulate and execute
the army program it will in future
wars as In this and every other war
of our history, be impossible for the
activities of the various agencies,
service and bureaus of the war de-
| partment to be controlled and directed
to the attainment OF the common
end"
! Under the terms of the treaty of
| peace" General March added "the
German general staff is abolished.
Had the Germans won the war they
would In all probability have pre-
scribed somewhat similar terms for
the United States"
Tho war produced new practices but
not new principles, the report said.
and was not won. as some predicted,
btg a no, nd
modern science" but "by men, muni-
tions and morale"
The American military achievement
was possible only because of the as
sistance of our allies" General March
said, and in urging an adequate mill
tary policy, added:
Surely We can never expect to pre-
pare for defense against the attack of
powerful and determined agency
again under such favorable conditions
to ourselves
Bulwark of American Power
Military experts are agreed, he said,
that the bulwark of American power
is its ability for self-sustenance. This,
involving as it does, our unlimited
resources of man power and wealth.
ne said, constitute our greatest ma
tonal military asset, provided, and
only provided. we are prepared to
prevent the landing on our shores OF
an enemy of the size of which our
own performance has demonstrated
to the world can he landed by a first
class power under certain conditions.
These conditions are that 1t shall have
control Of the sea and control of the
proper bases for deharkation.
1T Is, accordingly, one of the very
important lessons of this way tha.
reasonable provision and sount
policy demand that there shall be Mt
all times available for immediate use
q sufficient trained and organized
force to insure, in connection with
our fixed cost defences that no
probable or possible enemy can
ever seize great strategic base on
our coast. With such a base in his
possession, it is not inconceiyable that
he could, within a short time land a
number of fully equipped
troops to seize and hold by establish
ing line of defense not incompara-
Bile in length with that held by the
Germans on the western front, an
area including such an appreciable
PORTION of the resources and wealth of
country as to result in consequences
of incalcJtlable moment to the nation.
obviously such an attacking force
would be at its weakest during the
period 1t is attempting to land its
army on our shores. During this
period only will 1t be possible to null
lify any numerical superiority OF
troops that he may bring to bear by
the resistance of a trained and organ
lied force of relatively small size.
Only by the provision of such a force
can we be assured that we shall be
able to utilize to full advantage our
greatest military asset. by gaining the
time required to develop our resources
and to organize an army which will ,bs
adequate to any contingency.
THE size of such a force, which is
essential If the country is to be af-
forded that degree of protection which
a sound military policy requires, must
he determined by a consideration of
our extended coast line. by the neces-
sary dispersion of the force due to the
distance from coast to coast, and by
the necessity of providing for the
safety of the Panama canal and other
nsular possessions.
The Siberian Expedition.
With a peace army of five corps
backed IN by a system of universal
military training mo foreign country
'ould, in view of our performance in
his war disregard our rights Gen.
aral March said.
The siberian expedition was under
aiken solely to keen open the Siberian
-ailroad and protec. the Czecho-
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