Page ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR The PRESIDENT: It is with a feeling of sadness that I take up the task of preparing this report upon the activities of the War Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1936. For throughout that period the conduct of the Department was in the capable hands of my friend and former chief, the Honorable George H. Dern, who was Secretary of War from March 4, 1933, until his death on August 27, 1936. In his death our country suffered an irreparable loss. To the solution of the complex problems of the War Department, Mr. Dern brought profound understanding and an unflagging devotion to duty that continued through his final illness. Much of the marked improvement that was made during the three and a half years of his administration must be credited to his wise leadership. His long experience as an able and conscientious public servant, his fine talent for the administration of large affairs, and his simple dignity and charm of personality all combined to make him an outstanding Department head. His notable service cannot fail to become a part of recorded history. During the past year the progress begun in previous years toward a more modern Army has been continued. The legislation recently enacted by the Congress for strengthening our national defense is now showing definite results. Our Army, though small, is more efficient. Expenditures for military purposes have been wisely regulated so as to provide an appropriate balance between personnel and equipment and among the several branches of the service. Members of both Houses of Congress have shown increased interest in a sound national defense and have given careful and sympathetic consideration to the legislation affecting the War Department. The new laws relating to national defense enacted during the year were highly beneficial. In the light of present world conditions, we cannot afford to neglect measures for our own national safety. A secure defense is our most dependable guaranty against aggression by others. Those who interpret the measures of preparedness advocated by this Department as provocative of war are uninformed upon the true nature of those measures. They are ones which, menacing none, are solely for our own protection. They involve the maintenance of only a small Regular Army, but one which must be well trained and well equipped so that in war it may serve as the nucleus of our citizen forces. It is to the latter forces that we must look for the great bulk of our war establishment in the event of a major emergency. Since the close of the World War many improvements have been brought about, both here and abroad, in types of military weapons and in accessory combat equipment. This is especially true as to aircraft, automatic weapons, tanks, and combat cars. I am glad to report that the appropriations of the past 2 years have sufficed to permit a notable expansion in the numbers of our aircraft and a beginning of the program of modernization of the ground forces. Under the authority of Congress the strength of the enlisted men of the Regular Army is being gradually increased so that it will reach 165,000 by the end of the fiscal year 1937. The recruits are being carefully selected and are of a high type. The morale and the military efficiency of both officers and enlisted men continue to be maintained at the high level characteristic of our Regular Army. As in previous years, the Army has been engaged in numerous nonmilitary activities of the highest importance. The Corps of Engineers has continued its splendid work in improving rivers and harbors and in flood control. Progress has been accelerated in order to reduce unemployment and to lessen the danger of a repetition of the disastrous floods which recently devastated large areas of our country. The Army has also continued the work of organizing, administering, and supplying the work companies of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Most of the work is directly under the supervision of Reserve officers. The signal success of this project reflects great credit on all of the departments participating and on the fine young men who are enrolled in the Corps. As noted in the Secretary's report last year, the efficiency of the War Department has been handicapped by the lack of a suitable building in Washington to house its activities. The various branches of the Department are located in 20 buildings, some of which are of temporary construction. The need of a new building has long been recognized, and it is hoped that funds for its construction may become available in the near future. My report would not be complete without an expression of my appreciation of the faithful and efficient service of our civilian employees, whose loyalty and devotion to duty have, in a large measure, made the accomplishments of the Department possible. THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES Under the National Defense Act of 1920 the Army of the United States consists of the Regular Army, the National Guard, and the Organized Reserves. During the year there has been a steady and gratifying improvement in organization, training, and equipment. Insofar as practicable every effort is made to unify the training of these three elements of our Army. Regular Army and National Guard troops participate in Army maneuvers, and a considerable number of Reserve officers are trained annually with the Regular Army. REGULAR ARMY The strength of the Regular Army, exclusive of the Philippine Scouts, on June 30, 1936, was 12,069 officers and 146,826 enlisted men. There were 49 officers and 6,386 enlisted men in the Philippine Scouts. The number of enlisted men in the Regular Army was increased from 118,727 on June 30, 1935, under an authorization contained in the War Department appropriation act of last year. It is proposed to add approximately 1,500 per month during the fiscal year to bring the enlisted strength up to the authorized total of 165,000 by June 30, 1937. Practically all of the additional enlisted men are being assigned to combat units. They are being readily absorbed by existing organizations and constitute a very material asset in our national defense. While there has been a substantial increase in enlisted personnel, there has been very little increase in the permanent officers of the Regular Army. Studies of the General Staff Corps indicate that the minimum strength of our Regular Army should be 14,000 officers and 165,000 enlisted men. During the past fiscal year a small beginning was made toward a very desirable increase in the number of officers. Under an act of Congress the War Department was authorized to call to active service 1,000 Reserve officers for 1 year and to commission 50 of these in the Regular Army at the conclusion of 1 year's active duty. Under this authorization steps were taken to commission the first 50 of the new Regular officers in the Air Corps. Approximately 1,000 young Reserve officers are now on duty, and from these it is proposed to commission 50 next year in the various combatant arms. Modest increases in the officer personnel of the Corps of Engineers and the Medical Corps were likewise authorized by the Congress. These additional officers will be commissioned in the near future. Under an act of Congress passed a year ago the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy was increased from 1,374 to a maximum of 1,960. This increase is being made gradually so as not to place too great a strain on the facilities of the school and also so as to equalize the number in the different classes. At present there are approximately 1,600 cadets at the Military Academy. The first of the enlarged classes will be graduated in 1939, when it is expected about 500 will be commissioned, the largest number in a single class in the history of the academy. Personnel. During the past year there has been a marked improvement in the morale and efficiency of both officers and enlisted men. This is due to a number of factors, not the least of which have been improved promotion prospects, better housing conditions, and improved training facilities. Early in the fiscal year new promotion legislation was enacted which relieved the stagnation which had for so long a time prevented the advancement of war-trained officers to field grades and had long delayed the elevation of junior officers. Under the terms of this act the promotion prospects of the vast majority of officers were enhanced by from 2 to 8 years, and the War Department was able to give hundreds of officers rank and command commensurate with their long experience. Legislation was likewise enacted which provides for a flexibility in grades and ratings for enlisted men which will permit the advancement of worthy noncommissioned officers and of skilled technicians. Improved housing facilities for military personnel have contributed greatly to the comfort and happiness of the Army. There are still a number of old and badly deteriorated barracks and quarters in the Army which should be replaced, but the progress made in this direction has been very gratifying. With increased personnel in the combat units, it is possible to devote a greater amount of time to training both at garrisons and in the field. The result has been a marked improvement in efficiency. |