| Show WEEKS RESIGNS RESIGN DAVIS BECOMES WAR AR SECRETARY I Missouri Man Is Coolidge Choice NEEDS VACATION I Davis Has Served Si Since ce Spring WASHINGTON Oct 13 AP AP- AP Dwight F. F Davis of ot Missouri today was appointed secretary of war He takes the place of ot John W. W Weeks of Massachusetts whose re retirement retirement retirement re- re because of ot ill health was formally announced at the White House Hous The change Is effective Imme dla tely As assistant secretary Mr DavIsha Davis ha has been actual head o of the war department since last spring when Mr Weeks was sent to New England England England En En- gland by his physicians for an op operation operation operation op- op and a long vacation In his letter of ot resignation the retiring cabinet member said It had become apparent that he must greatly prolong this vacation If he heis heis heis is to completely regain his health President Coolidge replied that he acceded with great regret to the secretary's insistent request that he hebe hebe hebe be permitted to lay down lie he of official of- of duties he assumed when the Harding administration tion came Into office in 1921 The new secretary a lawyer and business man is in his sev forty year yea and will be the youngest member of ot the I cabinet cabnet He has served In the national guard and reserve corps has been an active official of various financial educational educational educational charitable and recreational organizations and is the donor of the Davis cup the most celebrated of tennis trophies SERVED IN WORLD WAR The new war secretary had combat combat com corn bat experience in the world war He was a captain In the Fifth Missouri Mis 1 infantry Jn 1917 17 and served with tI th vI t hui the Argonne and St. St Mihiel offensives otren- otren offen as a a. lieutenant colonel He was a awarded ward d the distinguished service service service ser ser- vice medal and was twice mentioned in orders for gallantry He first entered politics In his native city St. St Louis In 1907 when he was elected to the old St St. Louis house of delegates He opp opposed sed the late Selden P P. P Spencer for forthe the Missouri Mis Mis- senators ip in 1920 but was defeated President Harding made him a director of the war finance in nce corporation in 1921 Two years later he became assistant secretary of ot war in which post he was charged by law wi with h developing complete plans for industrial mobilization in inthe inthe inthe the event of war It fell to him during during during dur dur- ing Mr Weeks Weeks' absence to deal dear with such troublesome questions as the theair theair theair air service controversy sY His handling han han- dUng of ot that problem and his suggestion suggestion suggestion sug sug- that the president appoint a a special bo board rd to clear the atmosphere atmosphere at atmosphere at- at are believed to have been beena a a. great factor In the determination tion to name him as Mr Weeks Weeks' successor in the cabinet Mr Ir Weeks today attended his last cabinet meeting at which he formally formally for for- mally many took le leave ve of the president and ard his fellow secretaries He lIe will tonight for New England and andon andon andon on O October tober 24 will sail with Mra l Weeks for South America ISSUES STATEMENT I IThe The following farewell statement was issued by Mr Weeks after arter he left the cabinet meeting My resignation has been tendered tend tend- ere ered to the president nt I had hoped to be able to resume my duties but my physicians advise me that it will ill be several months months before 1 I am amable amable able to undertake any str strenuous work Due to the very kind consideration consideration consideration con con- coni i of President Coolidge I have havo remained in office In the hope I that I could soon return to the de de- de I have devoted the past I twenty-five twenty years to public service I have come to the conclusion however however how how- ever that the nation is entitled to better performance of this Important Import import- ant public duty than I am able to give at this th's time I I am especially reluctant to leave the war var department at this time With a regular army of om officers oUi- oUi cers und and men a national guard force of men a a. re reserve reserve reserve re- re serve of more than officers the anana annual citizens military trainIng trainIng trainIng train- train Ing camps oC or between and men and the reserve officers training corps It is Js not to be ex expected expected expected ex- ex that t there will be Unanimous agreement as to the policies s of or the war department There may be room for legitimate criticism but un tin the he whole this great reat force has worked together as as' a unit and mos mo most t l harmoniously I believe that under the defense act of 1920 the army of ot the United States has made the greatest advance advance ad ad- vance vanc in Its history and has never ne been more efficient or more prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared for Immediate and effective expansion to meet the requirements of war I take this opportunity to publicly express m my gratitude g 1 to General Pershing General limes Hines limesand and the other officers who have been instrumental in developing the theone theone theone one army plan and who have so Continued on page S 8 I I t New War Chief I II S 5 I Dwight F. F Davis of St. St Loui Louis Mo who was Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tues Tues- day morning was appointed secretary of f war to succeed I John W W. Weeks resigned Mr Davis has been assistant I secretary of war WEEKS RESIGNS DAVIS BECOMES WAR SECRETARY l I Continued from page 1 1 loyally o ally supported my my a- a flon Ion I have bave every confidence that thata a fair consideration of the army will demonstrate its efficiency and preparedness PRAISE FOR DAWES Since Its organization the general general general gen gen- eral staff of the army has r-as been frequently freqUEntly frequently fre fre- fre- fre criticised In my opinion this ha has hag been the result of misInformation mis- mis Information The Tho president has appointed as my successor Honorable DwIght F. F Davis Mr Davis has has' had two and and anda a half years' years experience In the department the first two years in inthe inthe the performance of the duties as assigned assigned assigned as- as signed by bv law lawt to the assistant secretary secret sec- sec ret ry of ot war wai yar and the past six months to acting secretary of ot war I have every confidence in his Judgment jUdgment judgment Judg jUdg- ment and common sense I know ho ha will enjoy the same loyal support support support sup sup- port that I 1 have received during the past four tour and a hall half years In leaving the public service I am mindful of the friendly support I I have received from the press Naturally Naturally Naturally Nat Nat- I 1 have been criticized but with one or two exceptions the criticism ism has been honest and probably probably probably ably Justified My association with the Washington newspaper correspondents correspondents corre corre- I corre-I has been one of the most pleasant features es of my work In Inthe I Ithe the department It Is with great personal regret that I leave the war department I love the army I leave them them w wt t the assurance tha 1 will contine my interest In their problems zb A and will wU always be ready to assist na M defense to the extent nf of of l m Ib U ability |
