Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-08
&CY. Weeks URGES
PREPAREDNESS IN
CONGRESS MESSAGE
Details Nations Plans for Do.
sensa; Favors Increase Of
Guard and Reserve Forces.
foR eMLARolHc ACADEMY
=. Asecela,.d rr.ss 10 Every evening

~ Aeecciased rrsas 10 Every evening
Washington. Dec. S-Realization Of
tho ulil measure of national defense
preparations of the army awaits the
Momeni when the American people
Throw themselves wholehcartcdly into
the work Secretary Weeks maintains
IN his nrst annual report, made public
Ms, nish,.
Plans now initiated for preparation
TOT national defense contemplate a
more complete state OF preparedness
thNn nj any previous period In the
learc time history OF our country"
MI Weeks says. I'VE have provided
framework for defense prepared
after careful study. We have an ad-
mlnis'rativc body qualified TO direct
and control the constructive develop
mont of the frame work. And finally
We have prepared tho plans of devel-
opm~nt Al OF this IN. however. OF
Alish, value until the American
people, who are the source OF material
for the body Of our defensive struc-
turc, throw themselves wholehearted-
IA Into tho work
ITO insure success. they must lend
financial support To the limit OF the
cf tn, country must train themselves
to he r'tcd into their places In the
national reserve. The industries must
rreparc 90 cooperate In war time
production.
The American people have started
sluns this path and they cannot afford
u turn back.
"rhc present period. marking a tran
siiion from the hish efficiency which
wo achieved during the World War
nj the cost of "A great initial waste of
llfe and treasure as the penalty OF un-
Preparedness, must be characterized
as one of the most important in our
history by virtue OF the duty which
n imposes upon US OF insuring that
the lessons of the great war are no,
Lost, hut that they are perpetuated
IN enduring forms Of organization
ana continuing policy"
While outlining fully the extra
ordinary steps taken by tho depart.
men, 60 reduce expenditures and re.
ncwlne pledges Co keep nrm hant
on tho purse strings In all that 1.
done, Mr., Weeks points out the place.
whore Ia his opinion too great
Limitation has been devised and maxi,
lessons ~ the war valueless 10 gen,
sfatlons 90 come.
st.p by step. he tells how the new
ntmy--tho regulars. the Nationa
Guard and the Organized Reserve
has been hrouEh, into being. Tn,
major function" OF the regular army
he says, IN 20 provide corps OF traine,
instructors In order that the reserv,
elements of the force. shall not h.
'suhicctrd % the excessive dangers
that confront raw troops" II called fol
war emergency,
For this purpose Il was essential
Mr Weeks says that the regular
army have large surplus OF officers
~ 40 this training Of reserve person
mel, lie adds that even II the regular
army is maintained ~ It's presen
dangerously low strength" with man,
sffiocfs released for training work b,
consolidation of units "the presen
commissioned strength will be insuf
hvi.nt 10 fulfli the functions requires
b, cur national defense policy whei
thai policy attnins its realization
through acceptance OF military train
ins hy tho American people"
"As we decrease the size OF ou
Standing army" the secretary as
ss,,s "wo should Increase the sctivit
of our inatructional work among cit,
ycns. We cannot afford 20 let IN
numbers of our regular officers de
cline Neither can we afford 10 per
M, their quality 90 be lowered
Declaring that at present the natio
can obtain from the military academ
approximately only onc-third OF IN
requirements FOR the peace time OF
ranisaiion oi the army, Mr. Weeks sS
presses the belief 'that the question ,
the advisahiii,y OF doubling the ca
taclty uf this institution IN the nea
future should bc given consideration
'rhis STEP" ne adds. would prs
/ par, us for effective solution OF
problem that now appears Inevitable
Asserting that there is mo lonEs
doubt" that graduates of the Re
serve OfYiccrs Training Corps ms
chlncry will constitute the main sourc
of supply foi reserve officer materi,
needed 90 nll cut the skeleton OF
sanisation, Mr.. Weeks says the AL
psopfis,ions now available for III
summer training camps for such o.
ncers limit tho work to a total
1i.oeb.
II earnestly hope" he adds, "ths
the authorization for the followin
Ncars will bc increased 10 enable |
20 hsndi. at least a majority OF thos
who apply FOR this training"