Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-04
Sec. Davis Will
Approve Own Report
As Assist. Secretary

Washington, Dec. 3-(AP)-Secre-
tary Davis of the War Department
has the unique distinction of having
before him for approval report
signed by himself on his own &C
tivities as Assistant Secretary OF
War. The document is his annual
report as Assistant Secretary to the
Secretary, and was signed by Mr..
Davis before Secretary Weeks res
ignation, although the former secre-
tary did not act upon any of its rec
concentrations, leaving that to his
successor.
AS Assistant Secretary and in
charge of the general War Depart
ment procurement program. as well
as of the industrial mobilization
planning, Mr.. Davis stressed IN MS
report the Importance OF representa-
ton of his Office in the department
budgetary supervision machinery.
1T has seemed to me of paramount
Importance he said, that in con-
sideration of the Army budget, my
office should be represented in order
to assist in presenting the point of
view of the supply branches. Past
history has indicated that in general
the appropriation needs of the supply
branches are sacrificed to those of
personnel, a condition which can be
remedied only by constant watch
fitness and continuing effort.
The arrangement for such super
vision by the Assistant Secretary's
office was made with Mr.. Weeks ap-
prevail during the period covered by
the report.
Explaining the methods for CO.
ordinating supply purchases ana
shaping them to the best available
market conditions. the Assistant
Secretary said he had established
contact with other governmental
agencies in order to obtain estimates
on future market conditions as to
commodities the Army would pur-
chase in quantity in any year. TINS
information had been provided 70
purchasing officers in time Tor them
to take advantage and plan their
procurements under most 1aVoraple
market trends, he said.
The report also disclosed that
plans have been completed in tenta :
tive way under which unified controi
of the railroads could be exercised IN
war emergency of major proper
tions. IT was formulated after ex-
tensive discussions with the AS
sociation of Railway Executives and
Is based on the statute authorizing
the Secretary of War to take over
the roads, but contemplates that
actual operation and the carrying
out of general policies will be left
largely to existing railway organiza-
tions."
The report expressed concern over
the rapid depletion of reserve stocks
of equipment and supplies left over
from the world war, creating situa-
ton under which the actual annual
cost of the Army "is in excess of the
the present annual appropriations"
"Sooner or later this condition
will have to be corrected either by
means of greater appropriations or
by the reduction of War Department
activities" Mr.. Davis said. Bad
as the situation is, the gradual de-
pletion of our war reserves has a
still more serious aspect.
"The resources of men and ma
terial which are available, or which
can be made available to the United
States in an emergency by proper
system of reserves, and prompt
strategical and diplomatic action on
the occurrence of the emergency. are
so preponderant in comparison with
those available to any possible COM
bination of enemy powers that 1t is
certain that no successful attack can
be made against continental United
States unless it can be carried out
with such rapidity that time is not
available for our military and in
dustrial mobilization. The tre-
mendous Importance of accelerating
our mobilization by means of
adequate reserves Is obvious"