Evening star., 1935-09-25
The United States Army.

Gen. Douglas MacArthurs farewell
report as chief of staff of the United
States Army, with its recommendations
for creation of a model fighting force
within five years, comes at timely mo-
ment to challenge the country's attention.
1t outruns the character of a technical
presentation of our land defense problem.
In its vision and irrefutable logic it takes
on the attributes of craftsmanship.
1t is true that the United States, be-
cause of it's fortuitous geographical situ-
alton, is probably more immune from in
vasion than any other great power. The
Navy is our "sure shield at sea. On our
respective northern and southern borders
are neighbors who will hardly ever en-
danger us, not only because they are
friendly, but because of our overwhelm-
ing superiority in man power and other
resources. Yet ever present in Americas S
memory is the fact that our safety from
attack. our remoteness from controversies
bevond our shores, did not prevent our
embodiment in the devastating conflict
that overlook the world in 1914. Within
three years the United States was called
upon to arm without stint in order
to play an effective part in the war
among the nations.
Americas task in 1917-l8 was pri-
n1arily military, rather than naval. 1t
caught the country hopelessly unready
and unprepared. 1t was not until more
than year after the United States
entered the fray that our Army was in
position to make its weight felt over
there The final achievement was tre-
mendous and reflects undying credit on
American capacity for emergency or
ganization. But the experience taught
us that it would be costly and perilous
for the Republic to lapse back into the
state of inadequacy from which it had
to rescue itself on such prodigious and
precipitate scale.
Gen. Macarthur recommends we'll
considered and comprehensive plan Tor
keeping the Army on a plane OF super
efficiency and razor-edged readiness Tor
eventualities. He lays stress on modern
ization in all directions. He particularly
advocates mechaniZation and motorlza-
ton, with a view to maximum mobility
of troops and weapons. He would have
land units equipped for the highest pos
sible speed on the advance and in action
supported by striking" force of $500
combat airplanes. The retiring chief of
staff calls for greater percentage OF
professionally trained officers and COM
mends Congress for increasing the num-
ber of cadets at West Point from 1874
to 1860.
Summarizing his conclusions, Gen.
Macarthur uses this impressive Ian
guage: ITO maintain in peace need
lessly elaborate military establishment
entails economic waste. But there can
be no compromise with minimum re-
quirements. In war there is no inter-
mediate measure of success. Second best
is to be defeated, and military defeat
carries with it national disaster-politi-
cal, economic, social and spiritual dis
aster"
The modernization program for which
Gen. Macarthur so persuasively pleads
contemplates military establishment
not remotely comparable to many now
existing, and one that even falls far
belsw the legal limits prescribed in the
national defense act. But his plan pro-
vides for an Army which the general de-
clares is reasonably capable Of assuring
1t is the irreducible minimum at which
the Government and Congress should
resolutely and steadily aim.