The New York herald., 1921-12-09

WASHlNGTON, ID. e., Dec S.-NOt until
the people of the United States throw
themselves wholeheartedly into the
work" Of constructing our national de-
renee VIII this country realize the full
measure of its potential strength, says
John w. Weeks. Secretary Of war. in
his first annual report.
Mr.. Weeks's report makes a compre-
hensive survey of the regular army, the
National Guard and the reserve forces.
saying that all these tributaries to our
land arms have been coordnated and
that they need but the support of the
people generally to make them reliable
safeguards against possible foe.
He sees a dearth OF commissioned
officers unless it is possible to double
the capacity Of the United States Mill
tary Academy at West Point, and de-
plores any attempt to decrease the COM
misioned personnel of the regular army,
inasmuch as It is to these officers, he
says, that we must look for the military
training of civilians.
There Is no doubt he goes on 20 say,
that the graduates of the Reserve Off
GERS Training Corps Will constitute the
principal eource OF our reserve officer
material and earnestly hopes that the
authorization for the following years
Will be increased to enable US to handle
at least a majority OF those who apply
for this training"
Speaking of our air forces, he writes :
Our experience in the world war has
convinced US that even though we en-
tered upon a defensive war with the
most up-to-date pilot types Of airplanes
n dangerous lapse Of time would ensue
before these could be produced in suf-
ficient quantities to acga e us protection
IA 1T.
were made In advance for the mobiliza-
ton OF the aircraft industry. This is
due primarily TO the fact that the COM
mercial development of aviation has not
yet resulted in an extensive industry.
Then the Secretary writes in part:
The American people are tradition
ally opposed to the maintenance of a
large standing army Thel feel It neces-
sary for the safety OF their institutions
to intrust the lighting Of their battles
only to themselves. Each citizen of
military age must be potential soldier
Applications for commissions have
been encouraged among civilians and
members of the reserve organizations.
Serious study has been given to the
capabilities of the United States Military
Academy at West Point. This demo-
cratic institution has, through the high
ideals which 1t fostered. been largely re-
sponsible for the excellence OF our mill
tary development. There Is no finer
cadet institution in the world Since the
war the department has made every
possible effort to eliminate any deficen-
cies that appeared during our war expert
ence Its capacity for instruction has
not, however, been maintained proper
tionately to the increase in need for
regular officers.
AT present we can obtain from
the academy approximately only
one-third OF the requirements for
the peace time organization of the
army IL Is believed that the ques-
ton of the advisability Of doubling the
capacity OF this institution in the near
future should be given consideration.
This step would prepare us FOR the ef-
fective solution of a problem that now
appears inevitable.
: Preparations are being made 10 con-
duct citizens training camps throughout
the United States It is believed tnat
excellent results will attend the course of
these camr-
Briefly. our plans for complete de-
fence provide for an initial mobilization
of force OF approximately 100000
men. organized into six field armies and
the appropriate corps, army, and general
headquarters units. OF this fore, Il was
contemplated in general that the Regular
Army should contribute nine divisions
the National Guard eighteen divisions
and the organized reserve twenty seven
divisions and the majority OF special
units. To carry this scheme into effect
the United States has been divided into
nine corps areas on the basis Of military
population. and distribution of units
has been made within the states em-
4sI IL.
National Guard divisions and three re-
serve diyigiona 10 each rea