Evening star., 1931-05-31
ARMY'S PEACE ACTIVITIES
VITAL, DECLARES HURLEY
War Secretary Outlines Defense, Water
ways, Flood Control and Insular
Projects in Forum Speech.
TIME text Of Secretary of War Hur-
leys speech in the National
Radio Forum, arranged by The
Il Star and broadcast over a Ma


Radio Forum, arranged by The
Il Star and broadcast over a Ma
tion-wide network of the Co.
fumbia Broadcasting System, follows:
1t is an unfortunate fact that the
great majority of the people look upon
the War Department as an agency dedi-
Gated to war. Many have come to re-
gard it as Government bureau which
exists between wars much as does a foot
ball team between halves of game.
They picture it as sitting on the bench
waiting for the whistle to blow, with
nothing to do in the meanwhile except
to contemplate the prospects for another
war.
OF course, the primary purpose of the
War Department is to provide for the
national defense, and its chief resp nsi-
bility lies In the execution of the mill
tary policies of the Nation.
Since the World War the successive
Secretaries have succeeded in placing
the business of the War Department
on sound basis. The returns from the
revenue producing activities of the Army
have been increased and it has great
er degree Of preparedness than We have
ever had before during peace time.
In the postwar development of the
Army, the fact has been clearly recog-
nized that the people of this country
never will contribute to the support of
large peace-time standing Army.
On the other hand the Government
has kept in mind the fact that the Con-
stitution charges the citizen himself
with the defense of his rights to life,
liberty. property and the pursuit of
happiness"
Develop Citizen COmponentS
Accordingly, the War Department has
developed the citizen components of the
Army of the United States.
We are making steady constructive
progress in the development of mechani-
cal equipment into formidable fighting
units. Machines are being substituted
for animals. These organiZational
changes keep us abreast or ahead of
the current military trend.
In the postwar period of intensive
study and effort, we have secured the
following factors for proper defense that
we did not possess in 1917. In proper
ton to our population We have the
smallest standing army in the world,
but we now have a carefully detailed plan
for mobilization; more highly trained
staff to execute it; a decentralized re-
gional machinery for its execution; a
more highly educated and more numer-
Gus personnel to employ as commanders
and instructors; reserve of equipment
and munitions for use at the beginning
Guard. and leadership reservoir OF
100000 Reserve officers. Our entire
peace-time military system is voluntary.
This development of citizens army
has o~SEa accomplished with due regard
TO- the taxpayers poci etbook. We have
succeeded - keeping the part of ma
tionsl s,Sc1e devote to preparations
FOR defense smaller u proportion to our
population 9ets>lz Ala: of any other ccun-
try. There Is rN.sa sor further economy
without injury ~ proper national de-
fense. In the Interest cf economy and
better business organization, unneccs-
Sary forts and reservations to the num-
Der of So are being abandoned. No fort
or reservation that is essential to the
training of cur soldiers or the defense
Of the country will be abandoned.
Air Program Near Completion.
We are now approaching the com.
pletion Of the five-year air progrem m
While working toward the attainment
of this objective, the Army not only has
increased the speed. climbing abilities
and fighting capacities of its own craft
but it's research and developments have
contributed greatly to the safety. eff.
cheney and economy of commercial
aviation.
Meanwhile the department is con.
tinuing its study of industrial mobiliza-
ton. This study originated in the re-
alization that modern warfare Is essen
TALLY dual in nature, military and in
duStrial Because of the fact that the
War Department has been studying g
plan to synchronize industry with mill.
tary operations in the event of emer.
gency, it has been charged by some
that an attempt is being made to mill.
tariZe industry. Such charge is alb.
surd. Even the War Department:
plans provide for the mobilization O.
industry in the event of emergency BY
civilians and not by military personnel
There Is no desire on the part of tht
general staff or the War Department
to militariZe industry or to control in
dustry to any extent by military per
sonnel. 1t is considered essential, how
ever, that certain members of the per.
sonnel of the Army understand indus
try and know its capacity, as well a!
its limitations, so as to prevent a re.
currence of the chaotic conditions that
prevailed after our entry into the Worlc
War.
Allied with the departmental studie;
of industrial mobilization is the worl
OF the War Policies Commission. Thi!
commission was created by joint reSo.
luton of Congress and is composed o.
four members of the Senate, four mem.
berS of the House, and five members Of
the cabinet. The chief purpose of this
commission is the promotion of peace
eliD.ination of war profits, to equaliZt
the burdens of war and formulate gen.
eral policies pertaining to the armet
forces of the Nation. It is quite gen.
orally conceded that the elimination o.
profits in time of war will be a loni
step toward the assurance of peace
Nearly all are agreed that it is unjus
and unpatriotic to require one man II
die in defense of his nation while an.
other is prof1ting by war. The Secre
tary of War is chairman of the Wa
Policies Commission. That commission
recently held long series of hearings
It has not yet reached its conclusions
but expects to be in a position to maxi
q definite report at the convening o
the next Congress. Since the Worl,
War. the War Department has beel
working on solutions to these mos
vexatious problems and has furnishe,
the commission with concrete proposal
affecting them.
Step In Direction Of Peace.
There have been many who hav,
objected to the consideration of thes
problems at this time. 1t has eve
been suggested that this study at thi
titme clearly indicates a lack of conf
dence in the peace of the. future o
that 1t actually envisions future wal
This, Of course, is incorrect. Intelli
gence regarding any subject pertainin
to the policies of the Nation Is helpful
But 1t goes further than that. It is
step in the direction of peace. It in
sures that in any future emergency tn
burdens Of war will be equalized so ia
as it is possible to equalize them an
that the burdens will fall with equs
weight upon all elements of our citizen
ship.
While reorganizing and modernizin
the Army, the War Department has ha
,@lny,fy of other y,ea na. .tina i0hS