Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-26
SUMMERALL HOLDS
ARMY INADEQUATE
Report Declares Net Strength
insufficient to Serve as
Mobilization Nucleus.


retired last week as chief Of staff, has
reflCrted to President Hoover that while
thx armies OF the world are larger than
ever before, the strength of the Amer
lean Regular Army lis entirely made
quate," regarded, as he says, solely
from the Viewpoint of its suficiency 70
serve for facilitating. q general mooili-
Gen. Sun1meralrs analysis of the
American military situation was one OF
the most outspoken statements made
by a military leader since the war. Re
viewing the military activities in other
countries, the former chief of stad In
his statement said that the United
states should be prepared to equip an
Army of 100000 men within q year,
If this country should become involved
In another war. His statement Is q
part of the report which the Secretary
OF War makes every year to the Presi-
dent 10 be submitted in turn to Con.
gress: J. = -.-- - --- $1,000
S3,S54 Mobile Troops.
Speaking directly of the Regular
Army the statement said: -
when the personnel required by the
overhead of the Army of the United
States, by the service schools, for duty
with the civilian components and for
the total strength Of the Regular Army
In the continental United States, there
remains q force of 53,954 mobile troops
and 1854 Coast Artillery for the devei-
opment of all elements of the several
componentS of our forces. Regarded
solely from the viewpoint Of its sum
cheney to serve as an agency for facilt-
tating q general mobilization. the fore
going review of our present military
activity Ii sufficient to demonstrate that
the strength Of the Regular Army is en-
%fhe strength of the Regular Army
required TO serve as O basis for the
mobilization Of q war time Army has
been taken under study by the general
stan, It's conclusions were that, In sd
dition to the overseas garrtsonS, the
REGULAR Army should have sufncient
strength to permit Of the maintenance
at peace strength of three Infantry
divisions, six reinforced brigades, one
Cavalry division and certain corps and
harbor defense troops, including the
Air Corps units now contemplated In
the five-yesr program. These orsaniza-
tions cali for a total strength of the
REGULAR Army of 1885, 900 men, or an In
crease Of 46,250 men over the present
establishment.
Cxt&8 wars Oh TM@Ss
Gen. Summerall proceeded to sum-
Marie all the major wars fought by the
United States in the past and drew
deductions regarding the present. The
chief fault in all, he concluded, was
lack Of preparedness:
ION the termination of hoetiltties, 1t
has been our general practice to revert
% cur pre-war state Of unpreparedness
and Ia o period Of few years forget
the essential lessons In conflict" he said.
This has been true after every war,
he reported except the World War. fol-
lowing which Congress gave the United
states the most complete expression
qf military policy In the history Of our
Eewsser, since 1881, he continued,
VidsA In thu national defense act has
Aesa gueooasively reduced by annual
saataon acts rom $4,000 70
- Cars Heads tast..
ne worth al various Instruments Of
WaRfaxm an6 theaI. status o. present Ii
@smB - nxlaad bw Gen. @afmmeralI:
lMvwWE MsaAgFia1&Gave for antt-
@kTeeaft weapons the supply e ample.
Ar Ccaps-When the Ave-yeaF plan
o b0uapleted the Air Corps win be the
N0st efAcient branch Of the Army.
TiaB United Etetes b the leading pro-
Queer Of aircraft in the world and this
xn4antTy-The efnciency Of this
branch win be fortified by development
Of semi-automatic rifle, now being
perfected. The Infantry Is still the
backbone Of the Army.
Chemical warfare - Training In
chemical warfare Is continuing, as re-
lance upon an international agreement
against chemical attack is considered
haEardous.
Tanks-Tanks with q speed Of 20 to
20 miles an hour are foreseen and are
apprehended as operating with mobile
Infantry. The Nation is still depend
ent upon the World War model at
present.
Naturalization generally-This Is be-
Ing exhaustively investigated by the
nations, but reliance Is still placed on
the mass army Is the mainstay Of ma
0onal security.
Artillery-Assuming greater irnpor-
tance since the World War, as q vital
auxiliary Of Infantry.
Cavalry-Soviet Russia has developed
this branch to high degree and 1t is
considered an important branch of the
@s%@y'. AAAAA8 eASC WOAAu WEI 40 uN1l1by
was obscured.
REORGANIZATION branches of con-
ecrpctton work has brought about mark.
cd demand for this branch.
Duplication Is Cited.
Aviation and the respective parts the
Army and Navy should play In It In the
plan OF national defense drew from Gen.
Sunnerall this oficial comment:
Developments since the World War
nave given rise to certain questions as
TO the respective roles Of Army and
Navy aviation In coast defense, and an
unfortunate duplication In respect to
mission and material has taken place.
In addition to the aviation which ac-
companies the feet proper, the Navy
now maintains long-based aircraft, in
GLIDING combat airplanes of the same
type as those maintained by the Army.
This duplication introduces confusion
IN respect to responsibilities and pre-
vents . proper apportionment of avail
able funds for the balanced develop
ment Of our defense agencies.
The mission Of coast defense Is an
Army mission, and, except for such air.
craft a. may be required for training
purposes, the Navy should have only the
aviation contingent required in connec-
tt0n with the operations Of the high
seas neet. The use Of Army aviation In
support of feet action within the zone
o. land-based aircraft is subject TO the
came principles Of cooperation that
govern other joint Army and Navy op.