New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-02
Burden of Armament Nav
Be Lessened but Can
not BE Wiped Out, He
Tells Army War College
Understanding Is
Best Peace Basis
Outbreaks Like That at
Mingo Might Thus Be
Prevented, He Believes

From The Tribunc's Washino oton Buyeau
WASHINGTON, Sept. In address,
ing the officers at the Army War Col
lege to-day President Harding de-
clared lit is perfectly futile to think
there may never be conflict and that
there may never be a time without
the necessity of armed forces in every
government" Continuing he said:
Il believe with all my heart we are
coming to time when we are going
to diminish the burdens of armament"
The Presidents speech was occa-
stoned by the opening of the yearly
term at the War College. The Execu-
tive spoke to the assembled officers at
10 o'clock in the morning. Secretary
Weeks also spoke.
In his speech the President referred
briefly to the situation in West yir.
ginia, where the striking miners
threaten the necessity of intervention
by Federal troops. eve ought to have
no conflict like that which is distress.
ing Us in West Virginia at this hour
said he.
Speaking of warfare as Waged in
the past by the United States, he said
II believe we of America, without un-
seemly boasting, can say we have
come the nearest to unselfish, con-
sclentious warfare of any people in the
world" He pledged the army officers
that during the present Administra-
ton they never would be called for
any war that they could not enter with
all their hearts and souls as American
citizens
Presidents Speech in Full
The full text of the speech follows
'The commandant, general and Off
GERS of the army:
II think I will relieve my embarrass-
ment by telling you a Cabinet secret
which came to my mind while the Sec.
retary of War was emphasizing his
duty as a civil agent of the 'govern
ment. IN the Cabinet, where we are
sometimes familiar, as sil men like to
be at times, the Secretary of War il
called Mars Frankly, should feel a
continued embarrassmcnt in this pres
ence were it not for the fact that ! am
glad to come and express Che interest,
the encouragement. and the good will of
one who is, by virtue of mis- Office. for
period commander in chief. | have
to smile sometimes at the term. CON
scious as / am of my own inability to
understand all the things for which the
Executive is responsible. This convic-
tion and realization come to me every
day, but have come to know and am
satisfied to believe that the President,
after all, is just the agency employed
IL focusing the judgments, the convic-
tion and knowledge of those in America
whose minds and experience must, of
necessity, direct the trend of govern
ment.
"There would not be man IN AmeH
ica, even were he superman, who
could fttingly serve as President of
the United States if it were otherwise
have come to feel new confidence in
myself because of the capable men l
find everywhere about me, who can take
upon their shoulders part of the great
load that comes to any executive.
feel so concerning the Secretary of
War; I feel so concerning General
Pershing and all men with whom I
have come in contact and who are in
authority.
Links Experience to Theory
."There is little that could say par
ticularly appropriate to this occasion.
| can, from my own experience, remind
you that if the War College is the in
stitutlon which brings the knowledge
of experience into blend with theory
it is the one great institution of practl-
cal value. The trouble with the world CO.
day is that too many theorists know
nothing about actualities and have
learned nothing of experience, and
whoever in this life brings the wisdom
of experience into a blend with the
teachings of theory makes contribu-
ticn to real progress.
"I do not know what ought to be
said about your profession for the fu-
ture, but, men of the army, no matter
where the best aspirations of the world
may lead us, no matter what tremen-
deus and gratifying progress is made,
there may never be time without the
necessity for armed forces in every
government. I believe with all my
heart we arc coming to time when
we are going to diminish the burdens
Of armament. think there will be
less of armies and less Of navies. |
wish it with all my heart But there
Continued on pass six)