Evening star., 1924-01-07


from are more apparent than real.
Where such duplication and expendi-
ture exists corrective measures can
be applied through means now
IS. That unity of policies and plans
and effective cooperation In Joint
operations OF the Army and Navy is
essential.
Present Methods Upheld.
'.7. That in the Joint Army and Navy
board, the joint Army and Navy pian
ming committee, the joint eeronautieal
board, the Army and Navy munitions
board. the local joint planning COM
mittees. and the bureau Of the budget,
as now established, effective means
exist to accomplish the results indi-
Gated In ts) above, and that ex-
perience and what has already been
accomplished demonstrates that with
the suppor. Of the Secretary OF War
means are adequate to the ends in
view.
IS. That the proposal to consolidate
the War and Navy departments into
a single department OF national de-
fense should not be favorably con-
such action will not accomplish the
objects claimed for 1t by its sponsors,
will adversely affect the efficiency OF
the Army and Navy and Will serve
tween these two agencies OF the
commander-in- -chief, the President"
Secretary Weeks opened his state
mont by pointing out that national
defense, As seen In the light Of the
world war, involves the entire peo-
Ia nf frv Nd ha Nnt fizry-
ties of the country, and declared that
England rejected plan for consoii-
dation OF its army and navy adminis-
trations.
All Foreign Examples.
He pointed out that France has re-
rejected such 4 proposal several
times. All great powers today he
continued, except Germany and Rus
sia, have separate navies, and neither
OF these countries has q navy amount
ing to much at this time.
Mr.. Weeks, remarking that the re-
port OF the Congressional committee
gave but little detail as to the inner
Organization OF the proposed depart
| fectiVe, was answered by. Chairman
Brown, Yho said that 1t was thought
best to leave such inner organixatIon
| until later.
Mr.. Weeks said that the War and
1 Navy Departments are full OF tradi-
| tions which have been built up. He
! said that any plan which falls to
take into account the separate mis-
sions Of the. two pertments Is un-
| sound in principle and should be re-
Jected.
| Hits "Generaitfes.,
Answering the claim that there ID
! lack Of economical administration,
Secretary Weeks pointed to tho bud
/ get bureau, and said that the saving
of money at the expense of efficiency
is unsound. He declared that the
War and Navy departments are not at
/ economic war with one another, and
branded the charge Of waste as gen
| eralities."
limited amount OF duplication, which
! cannot BE- avoided, and would not
| golidated" The amount Of harm
| ful duplication Is practically negli-
| 9ible. he continued. No ANAL 'conclu-
sion "A 70 possible duplication Of ef-
/ fort 10 justified. the Secretary OF War
| stated, without an exhaustive inves-
| tigation::
the great war" Mr.. Weeks said. I'VE
are putting into Legislation and regu-
lationg the results OF the last war.
Ha fnstAnced the national defense
act as . sample.
Attacking the, charge that under
the present system II Is impossible
to secure unity Of plat, and operation.
Secretary Weeks told OF the forma-