Evening star., 1926-12-05


our vital outposts in the Canal Zone
end Hawaii, and for that patrol which
,phods law and order to the benefit
of asting friendship with the neigh
boring Republic of Mexico. Heavy
demands are made upon the Regular
Army to maintain installations ana
units which may serve To assist the
readiness of other elements of the
Army of the United States. Further
more, since the World War, not only
have there come into the orEa anlZatlon
Of the Army such new essential
branches as the Air Corps ana the
Chemical Warfare Service. hut With
IN the old branches provisions nave
been made for the development Of
tanks machine guns. railway artillery
ard other modern equipment Despite
the foregoing factors the enlisted per-
sonnel of the Regular Army on the
last dav Of this fiscal year numbered
hut II 0n0 more soldiers than was the
case 10 wears ago.
Prior annual reports have con-
xalned discussions of the requisites for
actual fulfllment of the provisions or
the national defense act. As YET 'he
act remains an unacComplished plan
nv reason Of only partial execution
Of its provisions. We should not
hlindlv delude ourselves into the he
lief that a plan on paper ls IN accom-
plished thing. Congress has provided
the plan. It's fulfllment depends on
the decisions of the citizens of the
United States"
Reviewing the civil side Of the work
Of the Army Engineer Corps. Mr..
Davis fatfootedly disapproved propo'
eals to transfer these duties out of the
Army.
Lauds Rivers Program.
''Tn the long run the present system
Of administerin our rivers and mar
hors activities is the most economl-
cal" he said We. In this case.
achieve the end SO often urged of
making our peace.tim2 Army more
fully pay its way.
As an additional consideration Mr..
Davis pointed out that the fact that
Army engineers ARE officers of the
Army. whose normal promotion and
nav cannot he advanced or retarded
hv political influence, leaves them un-
affected by such COnSideratl tlons In
their actions
In discussing waterway and harhor
DEVELOPMENTS. the War Secretary laid
down the principle that new projects
should be held in a eyance until COM
pletion of those on which large ex-
penditures already have been made
l. would take S225 600 600 and at least
five wears to round out the principal
DEVELOPMENTS now in progress. he
said, even If II were practicable to
make ~Ich amounts available. He
used as an example the ONO Klver
development. approximately s5 per
Iato hut
about Is per cent of the service which
NAV he expected from the completed
project"
Inland waterways now carry about
goo 600 .o0n tons Of cargo annually,
said the Secretary. at an economic
saving Of "at least $3.50 900 a
wear. He described food control CON
ditions on many rivers as chaotic"
Shoals Nearly Complete.
The Muscle Shoals power plant was
said by the Secretary to be, AS a
whole. a3 per cent complete. He made
no suggestion as to its ultimate dis
position.
Turning 70 the Inland Waterways
Cornoration. he described il as TEN
porary expediert." to be continued
"onlv until private capital is prepared
vital 70 national development"
Mr.. Davis recalled his previous re-
marks on the necessity of removing
Army, personnel from 'dila pidated
harra cks and quarters OF wartime
construction
Suffice il 10 say that conditions
are. naturally. worse than was the
cece a wear ago" he said.
About g. 600 900 has become avail
able for building purposes from sale
Of surplus property. but total of
500 600 on0 in surplus has heen either
sold or transferred 10 other Govern
nent departments.
Where property is transferred 10
another department Of the Govern
nent." he said. this thousing) con-
struction fund should receive an
equivalent transfer credit from the
appropriation Of that department.
The War Secretary put his foot
down on the return 10 duty of officers
who resigned TO seek civilian employ
Snent.
The War Department is strongly
opposed TO the reappointment Of on
GERS who have sought other fields Of
activity az their own volition. or who
were discharged on account Of reduc-
ton in the commissioned strength Of
che Army" he said. 1T is even more
strongly opposed TO the reappointment
Of officers who were discharged or re.
signed as a result Of unfavorable clas-
e,fcation Of their military Qualifica-
iions. Such reappointments are unfair
% those who have remained in the
Service"