Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-02
u. s. ARMY
Continued from Page One.)
! work" Of the machinery Of defense Gre
ated By the national defense act.
Further Cuts DANGEROUS

ated By the national defense act.
Further Cuts Dangerous
THE present tendency towards cut
ting that framework makes it neces-
sary,' he said, "for me tt warn that
any additional cuts would endanger
our safety. since the framework is
already oht 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 thr%ee-in-one army plan.
The numbers of the guard have
been held down by the failure of fed
eral funds and equipment and the
training of units has been somewhat
handicapped by the shortage Of reg
ular officers who were available and
suitable as Instructors he said. The
states have proven most eager to do
their share in development. The citi-
zens have accepted the idea and sup
ported the units Loyalty. The appli-
cants for enlistment have been in ex-
cess of the needs. Nothing but finances
stand between us and a complete real
ization of the objects of the national
defensel act. The actual amounts re-
CURED arc not great
Mr.. Weeks said that the campaign
''to raise the general standard of our
military leadership" he considered it
desirable to extend the present prac-
tice Of a limited degree of selection in
promotions so that those offit ers who
reached the grade of lieutenant colonel
and of major with past records of
superior achievement, can be pushed
ahead at an accelerated rate for val
liable service in the next higher
grade"
present ratings he continued,
would Justify the filling of one out
of approximately every Il vacancies
in the grade of colonel by the promo
ton of those who merit accelerated
advancement. There would be thus an
incentive to endeavor throughout the
service"
Technical Progress Rapid
The secretary, also recommended
early legislation to provide definitely
for filling vacancies to the" grade of
eoIOIiHt diu iltGltilht toAVbtL pal AS
from the accelerated list and partly
from the seniority list
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
ticularly in the direction of air de-
velepment we have shown progress in
type.
In spite of this gratifying progress.
we are behind our program in several
RESPECTS. due to the financial sltua-
ton which has reduced our support of
some activities. We have not made
the experimental progress in motoriza-
ton of artillery transport that is to
be hoped for. nor in the development
of improved tanks.
Above all we are short in the de-
yelopment of air power. We have
scarcely the present store Of effective
planes that we would need in an emer-
cency nor the complete facilities for
training the personnel that we shall
need in war. The national regulation
of air activities and the provision of n
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 II finances
are improved, the actual building of
the emergency stores.
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 i'm
uortant weapon"