The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-02
PRESENT ARMY
IS INADEQUATE,
WEEKS REPORTS
Further Cuts Would Be
IneXcusable, Secre-
tary of War Tells
Congress.

WASHINGTON, December 1.-The pres
ent authorized regular army strength
OF 1900 officers and 125, 900 men is lin
adequate" for national safety. and fur
Their cuts would be "ineXcusable," Score
tary Weeks declared today in his annua
report to Congress.
We would seize the first opportunit!
TO bring the regular army back to the pro
portions which are required he wrote
We can not ever again make the mis-.
take OF expecting good soldiers to rise
overnight and good officers to be turned
out In quantities in three months Pc
RODS.
we are making progress, and any
progress is good progress. Any further
cuts would force us to lose what we have
gained, and would accordingly be mex
cusable.
1T has taken time and money to build
what we have. 1t has taken blood and
now. what We need. We should when
practicable add to what we have and
attain to the progress called for in our
defense project under the terms of the
law"
Declaring the officer corps "is really
the backbone of our military system,
Mr. Weeks said that security for the
future must rest upon the foundation of
our leadership"
Best In The World.
Il do not belittle the enlisted man
ours is the best in the world" he con-
tinued 1T is because l appreciate him
that I emphasize the need for officers to
give the soldier his best opportunity to
fight for his country and for his life.
I'VE must have officers sufficient to
handle the great army of the United
States. We have not these officers now.
"Our Reserve officers are theS first to
complain that their present lack of train
ing is causing them to lose the knowl-
edge that they gained in the war. Where
is there any training to come from? On
~ through the regular officers.
in my last annual report 1 stated that,
with 900 officers authorized. we would
not have enough to do all that might
prohtably be done. Now I must state
that we have absolutely not enough TO
do what is necessary to our safety as an
organized staff.
Il appreciate the urgency OF our imam
cial situation that prevents us from reach
ing our maximum requirements l can
not believe. however. that the impor-
lance Of this need is fully recognized by
all who do recognize the urgency of the
financial problems.
Il earnestly advocate reconstruct
ing Of our officer body to minimum OF
49, 600 at the earliest date"
Preparedness Urged.
Mr. Weeks said that he was confronted
like most Of his predecessors, with the
necessity Of appearing before a peace
loving people to urge bluntly and ear
nestly the continued attention to their
needs for defensive preparedness
MY conclusions are not entirely well
come at this time, when people have been
hopinR that nations had learned to avoid
conflicts of force" he continued. My
conclusions are nevertheless, that we
should continue to prepare for such con-
ficts.
III It is unwelcome. 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 defense,
as we'll as those who fail to strive for
peace.
we are right to feel confident in our
strength. But we shall never deserve
and fulfill our destiny except through
the study of our past faults and the pam
full eradication of defects. A true Ane1-
ran must be not only proud of our I'M
VARYING successes, but also humbly aware
that many Of these successes were bare
w won, and that in all Of our conflicts
success came only after the sacrifice OF
many brave souls to our Indulgence OF
the tendency to be unready.'
Reverting to the recent status OF the
military establishment, Mr.. Weeks said
that under the status Of economy every
element of the army's preparedness pro-
gram "in any sense non essential had
been eliminated and there remained on
w the bare framework" Of the machinery
of defense created by the National De-
Tense Act.
THE present tendency towards cutting
that framework makes it necessary he
said for me to warn that any addi-
tional cuts would endanger our safety,
sincs the framework is already out to the
noint OF uncertainty Our people cannot
afford future cuts which must be paid
for by the blood OF American citizens.
Enforced reductions Of the past year
the War Secretary said, has resulted in
measurable delay" in upbuilding the
national guard element of the three-in
one army plan.
THE numbers of the guard have been
held down by the failure OF federal funds
and equipments and the training of units
has been somewhat handicapped by the
shortage of regular officers who We're
available and suitable instructors" 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 ap-
nlicants for enlistment have been in ex-
cess TO the needs. Nothing but finances
stand between us and a complete reali-
zation OF tho objects of the National De-
fense) Act. The amounts required are not
great"
Mr. Weeks said that in the campaignl
ITO raise the general standard of our mill
tary leadership" he considered it de-
sirable to extend the present practice
OF limited degree of selection in promo
tons $50 that those officers who reached
the grade OF Lieutenant colonel and Of
major with past records of superior
achievement can he pusehed ahead at an
accelerated rate for valuable service in
tho next higher grade"