Evening star., 1922-12-02
Weeks IN Warning
AGAINST army CUT
Secretary Declares Further
Reductions Will Be Menace
to Country.

Describing the present prescribed
strength Of the Regular Army of H.
900 officers and 125.oO0 enlisted men
as inadequate for the proper defense
of the country. Secretary Weeks. In
his annual report, declared that
further cuts in that strength would
be "inexcusable." 'If we do not guard
against overenthusiastic economies.
said he, I'VE shall find ourselves un-
doing what we have laboriousiy done
at expense in money and blood. There
is a minimum that ought not to be
minimum. I believe that now is the
time to curb that tendency to cut.
Keep what we have built, for we have
built it not only with our own efforts.
but with the efforts Of Americans of
all times.
"My conclusions are that we should
continue to prepare for conflicts OF
force. If 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
pre- pare for defense. as well as those
our first President who said that to
be prepared for war is one of the most
effectual means of preserving peace.
Onicer Corps Needed.
As one of the nrst steps to bring
about that end, Secretary Weeks said:
I'VE should seize the first opportu-
nifty to bring the Regular Army back
to the proportions which are requir-
ed" and added, I'VE cannot ever again
soldiers to rise overnight and good
officers to be turned out in quantities
in three month periods"
Declaring the officer corps lis
really the backbone of our military
system" Mr.. Weeks said that security
foundation of our leadership"
"I do not belittle the enlisted man
ours is the best in the world" he
continued. ut is because l appre-
ciate 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'm my last annual report I stated
that. with $4,000 officers authorized,
we would not have enough to do all
that might profitably be done. Now
| must state that we have absolutely
not enough to do what is necessary to
our safety as an organized state.
81 appreciate the urgency of our
financial situation that prevents US
from reaching our maximum require
ments l cannot believe. however.
that the Importance of this need is
fully recognized by all who do recog-
nize the urgency of the financial
problems.
Il earnestly advocate reconsititut-
ing of our officer body to a minimum
of 1900 at the earliest date"
Present Military Status.
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 essential had been ellml-
mated and there remained only the
bare framework of the machinery
of defense created by the natlona!
defense act.
The present tendency toward cut
ting the framework makes It neces-
sary," he said, for me to warn thai
any additional cuts would endanger
our safety, since the framework is
already cut to the point OF uncertain
ty. Our people can not afford future
/ cuts which must be paid for by the
blood of American citizens"
Enforced reductions of the past
year. the War Secretary said, had re-
suited in measurable delay" in up
building the National Guard element
of the three-in-one Army plan.
The numbers of the guard have
been held down by the failure of fed
eral funds and equipments. and tn
training of units has been somewha
handicappd by the shortage of regu-
suitable as instructors" he said
= THE states have proven mos;
eager to do their share in develon-
n,ent. The citizens have accepted tn
idea and supported the units loyaiiy
The applicants for enlistment h.Ee
hut finances stand between US and q
complete realization of the objects o
the inational defense) act. The actua
amounts required are not great
Urges Promotions.
Mr. Weeks said that in the can
paign ito raise the general STANDARD
OF our military leadership" he cor
sidered it desirable to ertend the
present practice of a limited degree
of selection in promotions 80 tha
those officers who reached the grad
of lieutenant colonel and of majc-
with past records of superior achieve
:nent can be pushed ahead at an ac-
caierated rate for valuable service IL
lie next higher grade
AS to the technical preparations OF
the Army since the war. he said:
I'm nearly all directions we have
proven our ability to develop equip
ment that is inferior to none. Par
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 not
made the experimental progress in
motorization of artillery transport
that is to be hoped for. nor in the de-
velopment of improved tanks.
Above all, we are short in the de-
velopment of air power. We have
scarcely the present store of effective
planes that we would need in an
emergency, nor the complete facili-
ties for training the personnel that
we shall need in war. The national
regulation of air activities and the
provision Of a 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
the emergency stores"
SEVERAL SLIGHTLY HURT