Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-07
SAYS THE ARMY
IN CRITICAL PLACE
MANY DESERTI0NS

Washington, Dec. 5.-(AP)-The
situation of the Regular Army IS
extremely critical" Secretary Davis
of the War Department informed
President Coolidge today in his an
nual report.
IF the national defense act Is to
be carried into execution" he esaid.
the statement of the existing stu
alton, as outlined herein, must be
given serious consideration by the
people"
The Secretary included no specific
requests for additional funds to car
nv out the projects discussed in his
report. He did urge, however, in
crease Of the Hawaiian garrison by
I'll officers and 1863 men, and a
similar increase at Panama of 229
officers and 5,0S6 men.
Summarizing the status of the
numerous major projects of the army
that await authorization and FUNDS,
the report made these assertions
The morale of units housed In
temporary barracks is low, the de-
sertion rate remaining at a very
high and discouraging percentage"
In reserves of ammunition and
supplies, the army has lived for
years off of world war fat "and the
day draws near when there will be no
more fat"
"Very Existence" Depends
The very existence" to the Of
ficers Reserve Corps depends on ex--
pansion of the Reserve officers
Training Corps to provide for re-
placement of world war veterans,
who are passing out Of the picture.
The National Guard must be per-
mitted to expand if it is to be ready
the heavy loads which war would
throw upon it.
The Civilian Military Training
Camps need larger facilities to care
for the demand for voluntary train
ing service.
"The orderly and economical pro-
gress of all components and activi-
ties of the army must be assured IL
they are to carry out their assigned
missions, the report declared. This
military policy (the National Defense
Act) was placed into effect not by
professional soldiers, but by the peo-
pie. The approval of it's provisions
was demanded by the ex-service men
of the world war who had personally
suffered the hardships of active
campaigning which must be under
gone by hastily raised and only
partially trained army in modern
warfare; by those veterans who had
seen war stripped of all its glory, in
all its horror and sordidness. The
passage of the act was probably
even more urgently demanded by the
mothers and fathers and wives of
| those who had served with the
colors.'
Because of the fact that the Presi-
dents special air board was sitting
when the report was prepared,
Secretary Davis refrained from any
extended discussion of the air SER
vice controversy.
ANY failure to keep progress with
the developments which the air
forces of the world are undergoing is
detrimental not only to the air SER
vice itself, but to the entire army"
he said. 1T must be realized that
the air service must be given oppor-
tunity to train with the other arms
of the army and the ground forces
of the army must be afforded fire.
quent opportunity for cooperative
training with the air service if they
are to understand the capabilities
and limitations of this comparatively
new weapon of national defense"
The report recalled that the prob
had been dealt with after several
years of exhaustive study in prep
aration of the Lassiter board project,
but reserved discussion of that pro-
ject.
Mr.. Davis reiterated the views of
his predecessor in Office, Secretary
Weeks. that to carry out properly the
requirements of the nations defense
act regular army of 100000 men
would be required.
Air Service Insufficient
1.-THE air service is of insufficient
size to carry out it's mission under
that act" he said, land the same is
true of many other branches of the
service. To insure the training of
the regular army to that paint where
it would be able to move out into the
field at a moments notice prepared
for active campaign, could only be
accomplished by an increase in per-
sonnel.'
In line with his announced purpose
of pressing the armys housing prob
lem for first consideration by Con-
Sress, Mr.. Davis pointed out that 40
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