Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-26
STANDING ARMY
Of 10000 IS
UNITED STATES
NEED, IS CLAIM
Secretary Weeks and Gen.
PerShing Appear Before
Senate C0nmitt9e in Sup
port of Their Program,
CAN'T IGNORE ENVY,
JEALOUSY, HATRED
Former A, {, F, Commander
Says World Conditions Of
Today Are Unsettled;
Should Not Be Negligent

Washington. April ga plea
for a national military policy which
would assure the checking OF ag-
gression by foreign powers in It's
and which would aVoid
confusion, disorder, delay ana ex-
trayagance," when emergencies
arise, was made today by Secre-
tary Weeks and General Pershlng
before a senate committee IN sup
port of the war department pro
gram for an army of 13,OOO OIL
GERS and 10000 enlisted men. Ihe
statements by the two army heads
concluded the public discussion oi
the annual army supply Dill anu
the appropriation committee, when
had charge of it will begin lmme-
diately to write the measure win
the prospect said to be for an IN
crease over the house figure oil
1900 officers and $4,000 men.
Could Have Aycrted War.
General Pershing declared that
had the United states been ade-
ouatelv prepared "tEere is little
question that the United States un-
der strong leadership could have
nrevented the world war altcgeth-
er." He added that there was no
doubt that the civil war llkeWise
would never have occurred nae
the Union been equipped win GH
army of reasonable size ard reauy
for immedilte use.
The army of 115,00G men ana
1900 officers, fixed by he mouse
was considered by Secretary Weeks
TO be below "the safe minimum
requirements of the country. lie
q sserted that "unbusinesslike" con-
duct of the military estimate IN
years gone by was responsible ior
the expenditure of unnecessary
in the aggregate Ill ALi3'-
ica's wars.
Derense Systcm Unorganized.
1--WE have entered each war with
out national defense system unor-
ganized," Mr.. Weeks continued.
"This has required an eXtempor-
lied organization thrown together
in great haste and resulting al
ways in excessive expenditure ana
excessive economic disturbance.
In each case we have consistently
adhered to a policy of forming
great citizen army to reinforce our
small regular establishment, but IN
the absence of any definite plans
the process of forming this citizen
army has been one of confusion
disorder. delay and extravaganza.
In General Pershing's statement
regarding the size of the army, ne
warned that human nature has not
changed and that "our own expert
ences should have taught us that !
the existence of envy, jealousy ana
hatred can no more be Ignored !
among nations than among indl- |
viduals."
Eve should possess and continue |
from wear to year" said the gem |
nral, "a consistent and we'll matured
plan contemplating definite preIlm-
mary preparation and training Tor
its complete development in case
of emergency.
Common Sense Precaution.
"This is only the part of COM
mon sense and ordinary preo au-
ton, World conditions o. today |
are not reassuring, but regardless
Of all that we cannot afford ever
again to be negligent. Human fa'
Lure has not changed and the his
tory of nations is one o strife.
"The friends of today are often
he enemies OF tomorrow. Failure
% recognize these facts has, with
1ut exception found us always un-
prepared. Lack of preparation in
Ill our wars has caused us unnecos-
sary loss of life and has left us
under financial bur-
lens"