Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-16
LAND ARMAMENT
PROBLEM VITAL
To THE FRENCH
DELEGATES SAY
Representatives Take the
Initial Steps to Bring the
Question Before the
Washington Farley,
RETENTION OF HER
ARMIES NECESSARY
Frances Aim Is Protectioni
Has No Thought of Dis
turOing Peace of the
World, Premier Asserts,

| ashlngton, Nov. Is (by the AS
sociated Press. France took the
first step today toward bringing
the question of land armament, of
armies, before the Washington con-
ference
In concurring for France in the
essential principles of the Ameri-
can proposals regarding naval es-
tabishments, Premier BRAND
touched on the army problem as far
more vital to France. BY agree
ment NJ. BRAND, probably at a pub
lie session of the convention later
this week, will present most fully"
as Secretary Hughes stated 1.-The
views of France with regard to the
subject of land armaments which
we must discuss"
There was no intimation in the
remarks Of M. BRAND, that he had
u definite plan for reduction OF
Iarmaments to suggest. He did say,
however he was satisfied that the
conferees would be convinced that
| France. after the necessities OF
safety and life have been ade-
lquately secured, harbors no thought
of disturbing the peace of the
world"
NJ. Brands statements were
construed generally as showing his
purpose to explain fully why France
regards it necessary to retain the
great force in her armies. AS the
nation with the largest army, the
| premier pointed out today, it was
| appropriate for her to take that
Question up, but neither at the con-
ference, nor in any other quarter,
| is there suggestion that any such
sweeping proposal for reduction Of
armies is to be expected, as the
naval plan put forward by the
United States.
The American Army.
SO far as the United States is
concerned, the army question is
largely academic. The American
army, far below its authorized
strength of 10000 men, is cut to
| the bone. Further reduction would
be opposed by both civil and mill
| tary chiefs of the war department..
No American plan of army reduc-
ton will be presented and it may
be that there will be only nominal
discussion of the subject.
The American army Is looked
upon by its leaders as no more
than the national police force ror
which there IS always need. Rec
Ords of the war department show
that prior to 1908, through the
twenty-five preceding years. the
army was called in action in some
quarter for non-military work,
more than five hundred times, In
1906, it was used to quell Moro
troubles in the Philippines and to
aid citizens during the San Fran
cisco earthquake and fire; in 1907
the army went to lcify Cuba and
dealt with a Ute Indian uprising;
in 1909 it made a second movement
to Cuba; in 1910 forest fires in
Montana, Idaho. Washington and
California; 1911, Mexican border
protection and police work in Min
danao, p. l.; 1912, relief Of Missis-
sippl valley flood sufferers; 1918,
border patrols and flood work in
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys,
Carmel valley, Calf, fires, and
fires on Mount Tamalipas, Calf;
Omaha tornado; Lower Beach Tree
Ala, cyclone; forest fires in the
Adirondacks; 1914, Vera Cruz oc-
cupation and Colorado mine dis
turbanCes; 1915, border duty and
Colorado disturbances; 1915, Co
lumbus raid and Mexican punitive
expedition.
Military Police Force.
In 1917 the world war came and
with the absorption of the regulars
and national guard in the war it be-
came necessary to organize a mill
tary police force. The force was
a, Pa tnp rIg
In 1919 the army was used to
deal with l. w. w. troubles in Ari-
zona; race riots in Nebraska and
Kansas; flood relief IN Texas; steel
strike situation in Indiana and
Tennessee; coal strike duty III
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah,
Wyoming, New Mexico. Kansas,
Oklahoma and Washington; strikes
in louisiana; race troubles in Ar
kansas and in Kentucky; preserv-
ing order at trials of alleged agita-
tors in Washington and strike duty
in Montana.
There have been many similar
employments for the army since
then from stopping a coal strike,
civil war in West Virginia, to guard
ing the mail, and it is to be noted,
officials say, no section is wholly
immune from possible need and
quick need of q federal police.
With less than 100000 regulars in
the United States, the distribution
by corps is such as provides some
elements of the troops within quick
reach of any possible scenes of in
ternal emergency. Yet, they are so
far scattered that 1t would be dif-
ficult to get together in any one
area over night, as much as five
thousand men. and If 10000 were
needed it must take several days to
mobilize them.
1t Is for these reasons, as well as
for the necessity of having a force
sufficient for quick expansion in
case of war, that any proposal at
the arms conference which would
reduce further American army
strength would be opposed by army