Omaha daily bee., 1922-01-24
War Department
Activities Are
Shown by Weeks
Economy Needs Recognised
hut Opposition Indicated
To DESTROYING Efficiency
of Army.

Washington, Jan 2i-Polieies and
activities 81 the War department.
with reference 20 hnd forces Of tn
country are reviewed In letter &c
the chairman ol the senate and
house military committees made pub
Ne today by Secretary Weeks, TIE
letter. which Is accepted by some oil
ieials as revealing the administfs
tons policy for future treatment OF
the army, i regarded as showing that
while the secretary recognizes che
demand for economy and Las effect
Cd savings asgfegallng millions OF
dollars. he opposes any effort 10 dc
stroy either the efficiency Of the
army or its present organization,
Following action oi the armament
conference Oh gas, aviation AMI
other scientific developments OF
warfare, the letter shows steps have
been taken 10 apply new methods TO
army training,
Seek Private Opinions.
II is understood that question
naircs dealing with every phase o.
scientific warfare have been pre-
pared hy tho general staff. Com
manding officers are required 10 sub
NIT answers, giving no, only The
thoughts OF their troops on ga,
aviation and other weapons. but also
to reflect the prevailing civilian
opinions. These answers will BE-
studied and from them j, IS eS
pecicd a policy will be shaped in ae-
eordanee with predominating be-
lieis.
The letter refers TO development, OF
the army in its three eomponents, the
regular forces, the National guard
and the organized reserve. Pcrplcn-
ing problems involved in the rcduc-
ton OF the regular strength 70 1so.-
900 have been met, il says. and or
panization OF units allotted TO the
National guard has progressed.
The first strength report ever sub
mitted OF the organized reserves. the
letter adds, shows strength OF
1900 reserve officers assigned 10
units and $4,000 others available to-
assignment.
The regular troops will be used
this summer for training loO,NO
National guard, 10000 reserve Of
iicer training corps members. 2O,OOo
reserve officers, 10000 reserve en-
listed men and $1,000 civilians.
Plan Good Training.
For further training Of the National
guard by the states. the letter an
nounces, the departments decision
TO offer TO the states, under revocable
licenses, the wartime environments
and real estate at Camp Lee, Va
Camp Jackson. S. c.; Camp Dodge.
Ia; Camp Pike, Ark, and Camp
Grant III. In each instance, TIE
states will be required to bear the
maintenance expenses.
1T is planned to retain Camp
Meade, Nd; Camp Travis. Texas
Camp Lewis, Wash. practically IN
their present condition, as permanent
stations of the three regular infan-
try divisions. Camp Devens. Mass;
Camp Dix, n. J.; Camp Mcclellan,
Ala, and Camp Custer, Mich, have
been selected for training centers OF
the FIRST. second, fourth and sixth
corps areas. respectively"
About $4,000,000 has been saved
by reduction OF the army transport
service and withdrawal Of 225 vss-
sells in harbor boat service and coat
artillery boat service, about 81 554 900
through sale of waste, about $4,000
900 by reorganization Of the supply
depot system, about 81 100000 by
revision OF clothing allowances and
about S750,G00 by reorganization of
the remount service. Many other
items are enumerated.