The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-12-07

which Furnishes those nations VINO
fail to prepare for defense, as well
as those who fail II strive for peace.
eve are right to feel confident in
our strength. But we shall never de-
serve and fulfill our destiny except
through the study of our past faults
and the painful eradication of de-
tents. A true American must be not
only proud OF our unvarying sue
cesses, but also humby aware that
many CT these successes were barely
won. and that in all Of our conflicts
success came only after the sacrifice
OF many brave souls TO our indulg-
ence of the tendency to be unready.'
Reverting to the present status of
the military establishment, Mr..
Weeks said that under the stress OF
economy" every element of the
army's preparedness program lin any
sense non-essential" had been elimin-
ated and there remained "only the
bare framework" of the machinery of
defense created by the National De-
Tense Act.
Cuts Are Dangerous
"The present tendency towards cut
ting that framework makes it neces-
sary," he said, "for me 70 warn that
any additional cuts would endanger
our safety, since the framework is
already cut to the point of uncer-
tainty Our people cannot afford
future cuts which mus be raid for
by the blood of American citizens
Enforced reductions OF the past
year. the War Secretary said, had
resulted in Unreasonable delay" in
upbuilding the national guard ele-
ment of the threein- 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 some
whai handicapped by the shortage of
regular Officers who were available
and suitable as instructors" he said.
THE states have proven
most eager to do their share of de-
velopment The citizens have ac-
cepted the idea and supported the
units Loyalty. The applicants for en-
ISL Hitul nave tttu M GACCSo IN tDG
needs. Nothing bu. finances sand
between us and a complete realiza-
ton Of the objects of the (National
Defense) Act. The 0caual amounts
required are not great
Mr. Weeks said that in the cam
paign "to raise the general standard
Of our military leadership" he con-
sidered i. desirable to extend the
present practice of limited degree
OF selection in promotions $50 that
those Officers who reached the grade
OF lieutenant colonel and of major
with past records of superior achieve
ment, can be pushed ahead at an ac-
celebrated rate for valuable service in
the next higher grade"
present ratings" he continued,
"would justify the filling of one out
of approximately every II vacancies
in the grade of colonel by the pro-
! motion of those who merit accelerat-
thus an incentive to endeavor
throughout the service"
Air Development
The Secretary also recommended
early legislation to provide def
/ nitely for filling vacancies to the
grade of colonel and lieutenant col
onel partly from the accelerated list
and partly from the seniority list"
AS TO She technical preparations
of the army since the war, he said:
SIN nearly all directions we have
proven our ability to develop equip
merit that lis inferior to none Par
ticularly in the direction of air de-
velopment we have shown progress
in types.
'In spite of this gratifying prog
ress, we are behind our program in
| several respects, due to the financial
situation which has reduced our sup
| port of Some activities We have
net made the experimental progress
in motorization of artillery transport
that is to be noped for, nor in the
| development Of improved tanks.
J "AbOve all we are short in the
| development of air power We have
scarcely the present store of effec-
| 1--we Pioiieo liidt We WOulu utcu III dI
emergency nor the complete facilities
! for training the personnel that We
1 shall need in war. The national
| regulation of air activities and the
| provision of system of airways are
| matters which are essential to the
development OF air power.
/ Some steps in the direction Of at
least providing an effective plan for
our development of air power should
be taken at once and as our finances
are. improved. the actual building of
4 ~ emergency stores.
i FINALLY. we should not slack in
the training OF our citizens in the
simplest technique of war. the
handling OF Americas weapon-the
rifle-nor in the further development
of this important weapon"