Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-25
PERSH|NG OPPOSES
DECREASE IN ARMY
Says v. s., With Adequate
Preparation and Leadership.
Could Have Averted War
WEEKS ASKS 10000 MEN
by the Associated Press

Washington, April 25.--The United
States. with adequate military prep.
Grafton and under strong leadership
could lave prevented the occurrence Of
the World War. This declaration was
made today by General Pershing in tes-
tifying before the Senate Military Com
mittee in behalf of the War Depart
mcnt's plea for an increase in the mill
tary establishment over that proposed
by the House.
Failure to recognize the existence Of
envy, Jealousy and hatred among ma
tions as among individuals. he said. has
invariably sent the United States un-
prepared into great crisis and caused
unnecessary loss of life and left us
staggering under financial burdens"
Weeks Opposes Small Army Bill
Secretary Of War Weeks also told
the committee, that the 10000 en-
listed strength army bill passed by
the House provides a military structure
below the safe minimum requirement"
Of the nation. and urged appropriations
for the next fiscal year permit force Of
10000 officers and 150.0 men to be
maintained In the regular army. Should
the House proposals prevail, he added,
not only would the regulars suffer, but
overseas garrisOns would be inadequate @
and the development of citizen com
ponents of the national defense system
would be seriously checked.
II nm aware of 10 issue that threat =
ems to involve us in international com.
plications," Mr.. Weeks said. There
Is no evidence Of foreign designs against
US. We must, however. recognize that
throughout the greater part of the world
n condition Of instability prevails which
renders the pcrmancnce Of world peace
uncertain.
Weak Army Invites Aggression
at is certain that to remain weak
and unprcpared in the face of such q
situation is to invite aggression. 1t Is,
! moreover, essential not only that We
maintain Il reasonable state OF pre-.
paredness. but that it should be mat.
| ter of international knowledge that w
are so prepared.
Mr.. Weeks said the house bill made
inadequate provision for the health,
growth Of the National Guard and fol
its proper field training" He pointed
out that the War Department had asked
only funds to train 10000 of the 65,
600 reserve officers during the coming
year.
Mr.. Weeks said he had been mucl
impressed with the testimony alrcad!
before the committee as to the "physi
cal. moral and educational value OF mill
tary training" Statements by Govern
ors. educators and others on the poin
had been "most impressive" he said
and in his opinion these cOllatera
non military benefits alone justified
the departments training plans ant
the expense they involved.
Army School Of Vital Importance
The army service school system wa
of vital Importance in any national pre-
paredness plan, the War Secretary de
clared.
As to the gas warfare work of th
army, Mr.. Weeks said that while ultl
mate nbolishment of such warfare migE
come by international agreement, Il
would be fatal for us TO give up tn
series of experiments and invention
which were conducted during the Wa
and have been carried on since unt'
that moment had arrived. AS TO avia
ton, he expressed the opinion that tn
provision for its development in tn
army should be larger than the depart
mcnt was now asking.