Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1928-12-01
WAR SECRETARY
MAKES REPORT
Development of Aviation
Stressed by Secretary
Davis; Training System Is
Second To None.

aviation training system second to
none in the world Is claimed for
the army by Secretary Davis in
his annual report to President
Coolidge.
While the strength OF the air
corps is below that authorized for
the first increment of the five
year expansion program, the Secre-
tary of War said aircraft con-
struction had been going through
a period of Standardization and
that Improvement in existing lines
might be anticipated in the future
rather than changes in equipment.
The numerical decrease in equip
ment, he said, had been offset by
increase in quality.
Final determination OF the
strength of the combatant
branches of the army, solution
of the promotion question, and
completion of the housing pro-
gram will give the United States,
in the opinion of the Secretary,
"a permanent military establish
ment unequalled in morale and
in professional effectiveness OF a
high ratio to its small numbers"
The aim of a stabilization of
policy during the last four years,
Mr.. Davis told the President, has
resultde in Uninterrupted internal
progress with gratifying results.
All elements of the army have
progressed markedly. Progress has
not been confined to the distinct
ly military activities Of the war
department but has been quite
general in all the varied non-mih-
tary projects.
With an aggregate of 127,8S7
commissioned, warrant officer and
enlisted strength, exclusive of the
Philippine scouts, at the close Of
the year, Mr.. Davis said the
strength of the overseas garrtsons
could not be depleted to provide
increment for augmentation Of the
air corps. If further reductions
are necessary, and one probably
will be during this year, they must
continue to be made in the per-
sonnel branches within the United
States.
"It is with grave concern" Mr..
Davis said, that the war depart
ment contemplates further reduc-
tions in branches which within
the United States total but 66,105
soldiers for an area Of 100000
square miles and a population Of
over 120,000,000."
There has been a distinct ele-
vation of the standards OF units
and individuals" he said. Many
hundreds of officers Of the per-
manent establishment have COM
pleted courses in the splendid sys-
tenn of service schools. More man
euvers of varied type and extent
have been held. Many have been
conducted in conjunction With the
navy; practically all have COM
bined the use Of air and ground
troops"
Outstanding points in Mr.. Davis
report were: .
1.-THE essential material need OF
the army. from the viewpoint OF
possible participation in war, Is
the development and improvement
of weapons and materials con-
tinual effort to ssure, should emer-
gencv so demand, the availabiliyt
for production Of material OF
tvpes of last-minute development
and the existence Of jigS, guages,
and dies essential for the speedy
manufacture of such types. Ihe
war department has been unrelaX-
ing in its efforts toward this eno
I'm each branch OF the army
boards of officers have under con-
tinuous investigation every po-
tential means for the increased
effectiveness of units and Of ma
wkterial. improvements in types
have been well-nigh innumerable;
the army keeps well in the van on
all modern development.
"Action toward adequate hous-
ing of the personnel OF the regu-
lar army has resulted in gradual
but very satisfactory progress"
Increasing the subsistence al
lowance of enlisted men has been
recognized throughout the army
as one of the outstanding moves
of the last decade for the main
tenance of a high state Of NOR
ale"
"The National Guard has at
tanned the highest plane OF mill
tary effectiveness in the peace
time history of this element Of our
national defense forces. The Ma
tional Guard now is more highly
organized, more completely equip
ped, and more thoroughly trained
than at any period in the past;
its standards have never been
higher"
"The popular success Of the
citizens military training camps
has far exceeded the fondest ex-
pectations of those broad-visioned
leaders who were so urgent IN
their demands that the national
defense act give full legal recogni-
tion to this project for the physi-
cal betterment and military In
struction Of Americas youth"
"The subject Of motorization has
been studied from all angles with
a view to greater mobility OF
troops. The organization Of an
experimental mechanical force was
instituted during the year. 1t has
undergone a period OF intensive
experimentation from which may
be deducted the capabilities and