Evening star., 1924-12-01
|WARNSGUARDSMEN
|0F LOSSES IN ARMY.
Weeks Says Reduction of
/. Regulars Hurts Position of
I: Civilian Soldiers.
By the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
= PHILADELPHIA, December 1.-The
National Guard was pictured as the
BRET line of defense 'in the forum OF
public opinion" on questions relating
TO the national defense policy of the
country in an address here today by
Secretary Weeks at the national con-
yention Of the National Guard Asso-
citation.
The Secretary urged officials OF the
Organization and members OF the Ma
tonal Guard TO use their influence for
the preservation of the balanced
military policy" worked out in the
National defense act and to defend
rls Regular Army from Chronic
attack" through which attempts were
made to reduce its strength year by
year and thus cripple it's efficiency.
IF there is no Regular Army, or
"a that component tof the Army OF
the United States) has been sapped by
a long period OF inadequate appro-
priations until 1t is insufficient for
such a task tholding the first line Of
defense)," the Secretary pointed out
THE hastily expanded National
Guard will have to take the Regular
:srt as the covering force for the
mobilization OF the manpower of the
country.
Guard as Sacrifices.
Then the officers and men OF the
guard VIII become the innocent sacri-
itres which the United States offers
Tor failing to carry out it's primary
duty of insurinz It's own defense.
This sacrifice cSn ha avoided 10
tha wise provisions OF the National
Defense Act Of 1920 are carried into
execution and IL each component OF
tl. Army OF the United States is
properely trained for its particular
mission as a member OF a balanced
machine. Therefore, say to you
that the preservation OF a balanced
military policy Is as vital for you
as II is for any member OF the Army
Of the United States: and. further
say. that your opportunity to infu-
ehce public opinion in behalf OF the
preservation of such a force makes
!fCu. from a political standpoint. the
natural first line of guardians ip the
forum Of public opinion of the exist
ing military policy OF the country"
while he believes the National
Guard had attained the highest
efficiency In its history, the Secre-
GdiS cuIu, oalpoiO lilC ICE fHi my
from which il must receive its train
ing. be SO reduced in numbers as to
lie no longer efficient. there must be
a. corresponding reduction in efficien-
cy In the guard.
II would not have you think tha:
the regular Army is to be subjected
- any acute attack" the Secretary
said. AN acute attack can be met
AID usually repulsed. II is the
chronic attack, attempts to lop or
" poo men this year and 5000 men the
next. which may weaken the regular
Amy
S"The pe nalties of failing to provide
an adequate regular Army. or TO
make adequate provisions assuring
its efficiency. will be felt by every
citizen OF the United States. While
the great mass Of the citizens may
not feel this consequence acutely
uatil 8 national emergency actually
experiences. the personne! of the Ma
Iona! Guard will feed :. at once. ~
IF the executive branch Of the
Government Is TO convince the coun
try and Congress 90 the wisdom OF
proposals affecting the regular
Army, the civilian conponents of the
Army, forgetting, if need be, their
own immediate necessities, must un-
6ertake to educate public opinion in
favor of such proposals. That in
f1uence your association should help
tor exert"