The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-11-29
MARKS NEHl ERA nv
MILITARY HISTORY
or UNITED STATES
Postwar Reorganization of Army
Forms II According to Declara-
tion by Secretary of
War Baker.

J NASH ~ SNNNN NN~A
War Baker.
Washington. D. c. Nov, 29.-Thc
postwar reorganization of the army
marks a new era IN the military his
tory of the country. Secretary Baker
declares in his annual report, made
public to-day, as it provides an effec-
tive model on which great armies
could be swiftly built in times Of emer
gency.
Reviewing the military activities Of
the nation since l776, Secretary Baker
saws that although the United States
was "thc most peace loving of all ma
tions" it had been engaged in major
domestic or foreign wars about one
out Of every four years during that pc
riod and that the military power Of
the country had been in active use IN
war or military operations OF some
kind about three out Of every four
years.
ct is apparent. therefore, that while
we do not need a great standing army
we must live in the world az II Is
while we struggle To make it what II
should be Mr. Baker saws. I'VE must
have body Of trained men large
enough IN number to be an effective
working model upon which great ar
mics can be swiftly built in event OF
emergency.
"A Justice loving people may be
forced BY tragic necessity TO resort
to war but it has no right to ask its
sons to fight its battles ourarmed and
autshielded BY an adversary.
In studying the lessons of the World
war the war department had proceeded
on the accepted theory that the infan-
try remained the backbone of tho
army. the. report said. although the
Importance OF other arms of the serv-
ice had been greatly increased by the
swift developments of war
profound and fundamental changes
in armament were introduced and
many of the instrumentslities devised
are apparently only at the beginning
81 their development" said the war
secretary. The infantry itself Is no
longer the foot soldier armed with the
musket. hut tho foot soldier with the
long range. high power repeating rife
the automatic rifle and the machine
gun. which in some Of its uses, Is
analogous TO LIGHT artillery The ad
vance of the infantry is no longer
merely covered by protecting artillery
fire but the path Of the advance must
be cleared Of distractions and its Po-
sition. once attained. must he protect
I'd by artillery Of great power and cN
treme mobility"
Mr. Baker makes no comment on
universal military training, plan re-
ipcted by Congress in ensetinr tho
new army reorganization bill, but in
reviewing tho provisions OF the new
military law. he saws that one OF the
most important features Of the legis
latien is the provision for CON
slant and systematic relationship be-
tween the National Guard and the reg
ular army.
The provision, Mr.. Baker declares.
viii do much 20 prevent sutagonisms
which have in the past been the not
unnatural but nevertheless unhappy
characteristic Of the relationships Of
the two forces"
The army Is essentially new
army Mr. Baker continues. not
merely another army than that which
existed prior 70 the war, but new in
SIS attitude toward the country and
the couutry's attitude toward H. The
extent 10 which a new era has dawucd
for the army Is shown by recruiting
The difficulty r. securing the neces
.sary culistmeuts for Our small pre-
war army has in large part dissP
peared and although the stimulus to
operations has now entirely disaP-
peared the total strength Of the army
Nov. 3. 1870. was 2t3o51
M. Baker declares that the one
wear enlistment period authorized by
Congress has not justified itself and
asserts that from the point Of view
Of tho efficiency II the srmy one wear
enlistment periods are ~ little value
she report reviews az length the
new educational aud recreational pro
gram established since the war and Dc
rlsres that "the time viii come soon
when the peace-time army viii be
throughout an educational institution
from which men VIII graduate better
equipped ~ ertcr ci~ilian pursuits aud
with a larger and f~u1cT grasp on ~
i7ruship and IL responsibilities and
privilege
The total oo-t II the war through
the var department Is placed by tho
secretary at about sl3.-a05oo. and j.
i stated that in the liquidation ~
claims and contracts the department +
saved the government = Der cent g
the outstanding obligations e. the end
II the Wsr.
Discussing tbe disposal - surplus 4
war stocks. Secretary Baker recon- 4
meuds that IA the future TIE DEPART !