Evening star., 1933-12-08
Chief of Staff Has Support
In Seeking Army Efficiency

Mechanization and other features Of
better equipment for the Army, to-
gether with renewed attention to the
air needs of the Nation, are approved
in comments on the annual report of
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, chief of staff
of the United States Army. There is
an increase in the enlisted strength, on
the ground that it is now below the
danger line"
Fate Of the Cavalry is considered by
the New York Sun. which quotes the
head Of the staff as favoring broad
change in this branch of the service
The Sun remarks incidentally that "the
true friend of the Cavalry horse at this
time is the watchdog of the Treasury -
for "ti1e need of economy will provide
the greatest obstacle to any wholesale
overhauling of the Cavalry and to the
wholesale exile of romantic steed." Z"
In explanation. that paper quotes Gen.
Macarthur as pointing out two meth
ods by which to assure that this Army
shall have ability to carry out its mis-
SION" One of these, emphasizes the
Sun, as the complete mechanization of
all Cavalry units by the provision Of
mechanical carriers for soldiers and
cargo, vehicles suitable for scout and
reconnaissance work and others de-
signed for combat in any average type
of terrain The second method is the
replacement of the horse and mule by
motor vehicle for every purpose except
carrying the combat soldier Adoption
of the first method is prevented now by
lack of suitable machines, and probably
will be prevented in the immediate fu-
ture by lack of funds, though Gen.
Macarthur asks that funds be provided
at once for complete mecnanization of
one Cavalry brigade, to be stationed at
Fort Knox. KY. He recommends that
all other Cavalry units be gradually re-
equipped in accordance with the second
method"
"The warning of Gen. Macarthur
tina the Army strength of the Nation
is 'below the danger line" according to
the Rutland Herald. 'is something that
ought to be taken cognizance of by the
President and Congress. In the course
economy, the Army and Navy received
some cuts by Congress that probably
went beyond proper consideration of
national defense. Originally, the main
purpose OF government was defense;
the principle holds good today"
He points out" says the San An
tonic Express, that in any future war
the Army Air Corps would be called
upon to carry burden demanding eff
cheney, morale and numbers The
Express concludes that "the Nation
should provide both the Air Corps and
the Navy Bureau Of Aeronautics the IA
cilities required to perform their mis-
sions properly" On the plans as whole,
1.-The general staff considers that any
major war hereafter would be char
acterized by a swing away from the
great, ponderous armies that have been
employed in large-scale conflicts during
the past 80 years. In their place some
what smaller, but more mobile and
powerful arrays would appear in all in
ternational struggles. Gen. Macarthur
advises that the United States Army
must keep abreast of all postwar de-
velopments. To do so it should be
provided, in reasonable quantity, with
the best and latest types of weapons
produced. At present, the chief of staff
writes. the Regular Army is so small it
ment acceptable to other powers, save
as to some special weapons-heavy mo-
bile artillery and bombardment planes,
for examples"
"In the present unsettled state Of
the world" advises the Abilene Re-
porter, "Uncle Sans Army should be
brought up to full strength and put In
the pink of condition In every way"
for FOUR unpreparedness in the World
War cost thousands Of lives and bill
lions of dollars" The Lowell Evening
Leader. studying the proposed expan-
sion Of personnel. suggests that per
haps more desirable than an increase
in numbers at the present time would
be restoration Of the pay of officers
and men, which has been cut so dras-
tically in the interest of economy"
"If CQf&ress should grant all the
points ofe1le program" in the opinion