Albuquerque morning journal., 1920-11-29

Of j. s. ARMY
MARKS NEW ERA
Provides An Effective Model
On Which Great Armies
Could Swiftly Be Built in
Times of Emergency.
(By The Associated Press)

marks a new era in the military
history Of this couatry, Secretary
Baker declares in his annual re-
port, made public today. as it pro-
vidGs an effective model on Wi.lch
great armies could be swiftly DUN
in times of emergency.
Reviewing the military activities
Of the nation since 1875, Secretary
Baker says THAI although the Unit
ed States was "the most peace
loving of all nations" it had been
engaged in major domestic or for
eign wars about one out of every
four years during that period ana
that the military power or the
country had been in active use in
war or military operations OF some
kind about three out of every -FOUR
years.
at is apparent, therefore, that
while we do not need a great
standing army we must live IN tne
world as it is while we struggle TO
make it what it should be- Mr.
Baker says. I'VE must have a
body of trained men large enough
working model upon which great
armies can be swiftly built in event
of emergency.
"A Justice loving people may be
forced by tragic necessity to re-
sort to war, but it has no right TO
ask its sons to fight its battles
outarmed and outshielded by an ad-
versary."
Lessons of the World War.
In studying the lessons of the
world war the war department hao
proceeded on the accepted theory
that the infantry remained the
backbone of the army, the report
said, although the Importance OF
other arms of the service had been
greatly increased by the SWIFT de-
velopments of war.
profound and fundamental
changes in armament were intro
duced and many Of the instrument
talities devised are apparently only
at the beginning of their develop
ment," said the war secretary.
"The infantry itself is no longer
the foot-soldier armed with the
musket. but the foot-soldier with
the long range, high-poWer re
peating rifle, the automatic fllle
and the machine gun, which, IN
some of it's uses, is analogous to
light artillery. The advance of the
infantry is no longer merely COW
cred by protecting artillery fire, but
the path of the advance must DC
cleared of distractions and its po-
sition. once attained, must be pro-
ected by artillery of great power
and extreme mobility
Mr.. Baker makes no comment on
universal military training, a plan
rejected by congress in enacting
the new army reorganization bili,
but in reviewing the provisions OF
the new military law, he says tha'
one of the most important features
of the legislation is the provision
for constant and systematic re-
lationship between the natlonai
guard and the regular army.
This provision, Mr.. Baker de-
clares, will do much to prevent
antagonisms which have in the
past been the not unnatural put
nevertheless unhappy characters
tic of the relationships of the TWO
forces"
Army Is Essentially New.
"The army is essentially a new
army" Mr.. Baker continues, not
merely another army than that
which existed prior to the war put
new in its attitude toward the
country's attitude toward It. Inc
extent to which new era mas
dawned for the army is shown ny
recruiting. The difficulty in secur-
ing the necessary enlistments Tor
our small pre-war army mas III
large part disappeared ana az
though the stimulus of active ope-
rations has now entirely disappear
ed the total strength OF the army
November 3, 1920, was 2lS,Ooh
Mr.. Baker declares that the one
wear enlistment period authorized
by congress has not justified itseli
and asserts that "from the point OF
view of the efficiency OF the army
one-year enlistment periods are Oh
little value"
The report reviews at length the
new educational and rccreatlohai
program established since the wal
and declares that "the tine VIII
come soon when the peace-unle
army will be throughout an eouca-
tionaI institution from Whlcn men
will graduate better equipped 10
enter civilian pursuits and with
larger and firmer grasp on CITIZEN
ship and it's responsibilities anu
Total Cost Of the War.
The total cost of the war through
the war department is placed by
the secretary at about S13,73O,-
800, 500 and it is stated that IN the
of claims and contracts
the department saved the govern
ment 81 per cent of the outstand-
ing obligations at the end OF the
war.
Discussing the disposal of surplus
war stocks, Secretary Baker recon-
mends that in the future the de-
partment's plans keep In mind an
effort to have on hand at the ter
mination of a war, supplies OF q
character, so far as consistent with
army needs, that could readily and
quickly be absorbed into the coun-
try's commerce.
Declaring that he is happy to
leave to his successors in the war
the assurance that in
any national emergency they have
but to use and direct the limitless
and willingness of the
American people which spontane-
ously offers itself when a crisis
comes" Mr.. Baker concludes his
report with a tribute to the navy
and civilian war organizations Tor
during and after the
war, and declares that: