Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-29
HAVE FOUNDATION
FOR BIG U. S. ARMY
Reorganization New Era in
Military History, Says
Secretary Baker.

| While the United States has been
Sthe Ilost peace loving of all nations
| 1t has been engaged in major domes-
tic or foreign wars about one out Of
every four years since 1916, Secretary
War Baker declares in his annual
report made public today. 1t is ap-
parent, therefore. states the Secretary,
| that while We do not need a great
standing army we must live in the
world as it is. while we struggle 10
make it what it should be. We must
| have body of trained men large
enough in numbers to be an effective
working model upon which great
armies can be swiftly built in event
OF emergency
Army marks new era in the couh
try's military history, states Secretary
Baker
The infantry remains the backbone
OF the Army, the report says, after a
review Of the world war and the les
sons derived therefrom by the War
Department. Despite this, the i'm
portance. of the other arms of the
service has greatly increased. it is
declared.
Mentions National Guard.
The Secretary makes no comment on
universal military training. plan re-
Jected by Congress in enacting the
and systematic relationship between
the National Guard and the Regular
army" however, is one of the most
Important features of the reorganiza-
ton Legislation Mr.. Baker states
This provision. Mr.. Baker declares.
will do much to prevent antagonisms
which have in the past. been the not
unnatural but, nevertheless, unhappy
characteristic of the relationships Of
the two forces"
Mr.. Baker declares that the one
year enlistment period authorized by
Congress has not justified itself. and
asserts that from the point of view
Of the efficiency of the Army one
year enlistment periods are Of little
value"
The report reviews at length the
new ,educa .ional recreational program
established sims the war, and de-
cfares that 1.-The time will come soon
when the peace time Army will be
throughout an educational fnstitu-
ton. from which men will graduate
better equipped to enter civilian pur.
suits and with larger and frmer
grasp on citizenship and its responsi.
bilities and privileges"
War Cost S13,73O300,50O
! The total cost Of the war through
the War Department is placed by the
Secretary at about S1s.7s0.30o.5 500. and
1t Is stated that in the liquidation
of claims and contracts the depart
ment saved the government 81 per
cent of the outstanding 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 war supplies of char
acter. so far as consistent with Army
needs. that could readily and quickly,
be absorbed into. the countrys com
merce.
e Declaring that he is happy to- leave
to his srccessors in the War Depart
ment the assurance that 'fn any
national emergency they have but to
use and direct the limitless capacity
and willingness of the American peo-
pie which spontaneously offers itself
when a crisis comes" Mr.. Baker con-
Guides his report with tribute to
the Navy and civilian war organiza-
tions for cooperation during and
after the war. and declares that:
Tn equipment, personnel and spirit
Ethe Army of the United States$today
is an object of Just pride I'd the
country" ill.,. -