The Colorado statesman., 1923-05-19

of representatives. has embarked on
the United States transport Grant for
a long tour OF inspection of the coast
defenses of the country and of some Of
Its outlying possessions.
The senators and representatives
who are with the secretary are either
members of the military committees or
have places on the appropriation
bodies. The intention is to learn what
properly should be done for the de-
fense of Panama and for the coastline
Notifications of the United States on
the Pacific side.
Secretary DENLY recently took a
party of congressman to southern wa
ters not only to witness the evolu-
tions of the fleet but to study the
naval defense program of the Panama
canal. There is disposition In CON
gress to appropriate only small
amounts for defense purposes, but the
intention is to have the money ex-
pended where 1t is most vitality needed.
On the eve of the sailing of the party
on its inspection trip the writer OF
this, as commander of the National
Press Club post of the American Le-
gion, asked the secretary of war to
be the posts guest and to talk not
only to the members of the legion or
ganization, but to newspaper corre-
spondents generally on the subject of
1.-The Army and Peace" Secretary
correspondents In the capital learned
from him first hand what the depart
ment's views are concerning prepared
ness, the attitude of the people toward
the army, and something about the at
tempts of certain organizations to in
duce congress to make the country
wholly defenseless in case war should
come.
Dickman Praises Our Soldiers.
Prior to the address of the secre-
tary, Maj. Gen. Joseph I. Dickman,
who commanded the Third division at
the battle of the Marne and the First
corps in the Argonnc, who led that
corps to the gates of Sedan, and who
later took the Army of Occupation
into Germany, spoke about the conduct
of the American soldiers when they
were occupying part of the country
of their recent enemy.
General Dickman commanded the
250,0OO American troops constituting
the First Army of Occupation in Ger
many. He said European military au-
thorities admitted that never before
had an army of occupation shown such
exemplary conduct as did the individ-
uals composing this great force of
American boys. Recent German com
batants and the entire population of
noncombatants pursued unhindered
their ordinary vocations and learned
to respect American manhood.
Secretary Weeks in his address
called attention TO the seeming belief
among the people that an army neces-
sarily is militaristlc. Apparently it
seems somewhat strange to him, as
IT does to others in Washington, that
the people do not realize that anything
an army does in peace times Is done
under the limitations of acts of con-
gress and wholly under the control
of the direct representatives of the
people of the country.
He said that it Is the duty of the
army officers to study situations and
to prepare plans which in case of an
emergency would enable the country
to defend itself. This is the duty
with which the officers are charged
by the representatives of the people.
Weeks on National Defense.
The army, in brief, as its work IS
outlined, is doing its necessary guard
ianship work in the continental United
States and in the non-contiguous terri
tories, and otherwise is engaged simply
in so planning things that If the peo-
pie ever need scheme of national
defense they will have it.
EFFECTIVE national defense" said Mr..
Weeks, "depends upon the extent to
which the people appreciate the need
for it. This appreciation will come
only when the people know and are
able to interpret the facts relative to
national life and international reia-
tions. In word, education of all the
peopIe in these matters must go on all
the time If our representative govern
ment. wherein public opinion controls
governmental action, is to survive and
to grow stronger.
1--WE, as Il nation, understand now,
and we shall continue in our under
standing, that we shall more certainly
preserve peace when it is well under
stood that we are prepared 70 defend
ourselves"
While Secretary Weeks was address,
ing the veterans of the legion post
the White House was being 2icketed
by representatives of an organization
which is striving totally to disarm the
United States, and thus in the case OF
any sudden attacking emergency to lay
ii open to invasion by an enemy.
Anqry With Him.