Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-02

that the importance of this need is
fully recognized by all who do recog-
nize the urgency of the financial prob
/ lens. D
F. Il earnestly advocate rcconstitut-
T., ing CT our officer body to a minimum
| of $4,000 "a the earliest date"
Mr.. Weeks said he was confronted
like most Of his predecessors. with the
necessity of appearing before peace
/ loving people to urge buntly and ear
nestly the continuous attention to
: their needs, for defensive prepared
ness"
My conclusions are not entirely
welcome at this time, when people have
been hoping that nations had learned
to avoid conflicts of force" he con-
! ,inucd. MY conclusions are, never
| theiess, that we should continue to pre-
! pare for such conflicts.
IF it is upwelcome, it is no less true
| that Americans. like all other peoples.
are subject to the law which Furnishes
! those nations who fail to prepare for
J defense. as well as those who fail to
strive for peace.
Eve are right to feel confident in
our strength. But we shall never de-
serve and fulfill our destiny except
,, through the study of our past faults
and the painful eradication of defects.
4 true American must be not only
proud Of our unvarying successes. but
also humbly aware that many of these
! successes were barely won, and that in
al our conflicts success came only
after the sacrifice of many brave souls
20 our indulgence of the tendency to be-
unready."
Rcverting to the present status of
The military establishment Mr.. Weeks
said that "urder the stress of economy"
every element of the Army's prepared
ness program lin any sense non-essen-
tial." had been eliminated and there re-
manned "orly the bare framework of
the machinery of defense created by the
National Defense Act.
'The present tendency towards cut
ting that framework. makes it neees-
sary," he said, "for me to warn that
any additional cuts would endanger our
safety, since the framework is already
out 10 the point of uncertainty. Our
peop.e can not afford future cuts which
must be paid for by the blood of Amer.
lean citizens"
Enforced reductions of the past year
the War Secretary said, had resulted
n measurable delay in upbuilding
he national guard element of the
threa-in-one army plan.
'The numbers Of the guard have
been held down ky the failure of
federal funds and equipments and
the training of units has been
somewhat handicapped by : the
shortage of regular officers who
were available and suitable as, instruc-
tors" he said. THE states
have proven most eager TO do their
share in development. The citizens
have accepted the idea and supported
the units loyalty. The applicants for
enlistment have been in excess OF the
needs. Nothing but finances stand be-
tween US and q complete realization ot
The objects OF the National Defense)
Act. The actual amounts required arc
not great"
Mr.. Weeks said that in the campaign
TO raise the general standard of our
military leadership" he considered ~
desirable to extend the present practice
nf limited degree of selection in pro.
motions 80 that those officers who
reached the grade of lieutenant colonel
and of major with past records of SUI
herior achievement. can be pushed
ahead at an accelerated rate for val
liable service in the next higher grade"
Present ratings" he continued.
ba 80
approximately every IL vacancies in
the grade of colonel by the promotion
Of those who merit accelerated ad-