The Washington herald., 1922-10-24
Secretary,of War Urges
Need of Preparedness
As Before War.
FAvORS DEFENSE
ARMY OF 10000
Declares Munition Plants
And Aircraft Must
Be Developed.

NEW YORK, Oct. 2s-America a
drifting back TO its short-sight-
ed, careless and happy-go-lucky at
titude Of the early days Of the Eu-
ropean war" with regard TO pre-
paredness. IN the opinion Of Secre-
tary Of war Weeks.
This sentiment lie being encouraged
through diminished military appro-
priations. Mr.. Weeks told the New
York Post of the Army Ordnance
Association at the Army and Navy
Club. here. tonight. His address.
which scored the groups Of silly
pacifists in this country who are
seeking universal peace through un-
dermining. with their insidious
propaganda, the ability Of their own
country to protect ITSELF" is the first
OF a series Of appeals by officials of
the War Department for increased
appropriations ana consequent in
creased personnel.
Urges Army Of 10000 Men.
To further national preparedness.
he said. two main lines Of endeavor
must be followed:
1. The United States must have
an army Of 10000 men and 1900
officers IF we are going TO carry
out the provisions Of the national
defense act OF 1920.
2. The nation must also concen-
trate on the Industrial phases OF
preparedness. namely. the develop
mept OF munitions plants. of air
craft-s phase of preparedness in
some respects more important than
development Of man power. b.cause
Of the great length Of time Il re-
quires TO prepare industrislly."
Must Respect Expert opsniep.
The army might possibly get on
temporarily with 10000 men" Mr..
Weeks said. but when In every
walk of life we turn 10 the expert
for advice. why DO we turn to the
uninformed for advice In matters
pertaining to the military? That
is just what We are doing. Ths di-
recting forces OF our successful ar
mics in France are still in the har-
ness. They have had the actual
experience Of developing an army
into an effective fighting machine.
How futile it is TO neglect their
opinion and follow that of some
comparatively obscure and totally
inexperienced person. guided largely
by preju Ne. who happen. tempor-
arily to he in an oficial position
where he can make his opinions ef-
fective?
Quotes Gen. PershinE.
ITO quote Gen. Pershing. in a re-
cent memorandum. he said:
Had the United States In the
spring of 1917 possessed twenty-five
OF thirty divisions completely or
ganized and equipped. but only suf-
ficiently trained TO meet the require
ments of the national position in
readiness. each of these divisions
would have been advanced many
months compared with the many
new divisions IL was necessary 20
create"
With regard TO the need for in-
dustrial preparedness. Secretary
Weeks cited the following instances
OF conditions existing in 1917 after
| the United States had declared war
on Germany:
The first definite order for -ifies
was not placed until June l. 1917.
about seven weeks after the war
had actually started
Lacked Guns and Ammunition-
six months after we had entered
the war a comma nding general of
one of our army camps. where a di-
vision had been mobilized and was
being trained for overseas service.
reported that his division had no
machine guns. but 81 per cent OF it,
| a,,,iDp,apf ~ riAes 10 per cent Of
the 3-inch guns required. IS per
cent OF its infantry equipment. and
only 10 per cent of the artillery am
| munition needed. II was just about
this time that Gen. Pershing cabled
the War Department from France
that the failure to land supplies OF
winter clothing has produced a Sc
rious condition"
the need of government subsidy of
those steel plants which were con,
structed for special war work and
which are now serious burdens 20
| their owners.
Hartford Discusses Ordinances.
Major General Harbord. deputy
chief of stan. supplemented Weeks
appeal with a discussion OF expert
ments in army ordnance now going
on. That this experimentation must
be developed is obvious. he said, es-
pecially since mo statesman is wise
enough to say when soldiers ana
ordnance may not be in demand
again and the streets Of this city
echo once more to the tread Of
marching thousands"