Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-08
SOLVE army PROBLEM
WITH A RESERVE FORCE
Gen. Evans Says Its Lack Is
the Weakest Point in Our
Military System.

The adoption Of q hva-year period OF
enlistment In the army instead OF
shorter period. In the opinion OF Brig.
Cen r K Evans. chief OF the militia
division Of the War Department. would
constitute an error, which" he says.
would be far-reaching In its ultimate
effects upon the defense Of the United
States"
In . report 20 the War Department.
Gen. Evans Discusses this question from
the standpoint OF the organised militia,
which he says naturally would be govern
ed by any action taken by the regular
army. Reference was made to the ex-
pressed opinion OF some officers Of the
army. including Adit Gen. Ainsworth.
that 1t required i've years to make . we'll
disciplined. well-trained. thoroughly eth
cient and dependable soldier. IL that
view 10 correct, said Gen. DvanS, the pros
poets are not bright of ever obtaining
militia. considering the limited number Of
hours and days per year during which
they are subjected to military instruction.
Lack Of Reserve Weak Point.
IL such a long period is necessary .
says Gen. Evans. where q man 10 under
military control for twenty-four hours a
day. continuously subjected to discipline
and instruction every day In the week. 1t
must be apparent that several times i've
years will be necessary to make depend
able soldiers out of equally good material,
or even better material, where the law
requires merely ffve consecutive days In
camp per year anu twenty-four drills in
addition to camp duty.
again. II 1t be assumed that dve years
IN the organized militia will make q de-
pendable soldier. even 50, 1t Is not seen
now an adequate force. considering the
lied militia, could ever be obtained for
national defense Under such conditions
1t Will be impossible to ever secure "A
sunicienty large number Of dependable
soldiers prior to war, and as modern wars
last only few months II will be impos-
sible to make such soldiers during the
continuance Of the war. There can be no
question but what five years service will
mako better soldier than three, but
what 10 needed in the United States Is
training rather than q small number very
highly trained.
Tho weakest point in our present mill
tary system Is the lack OF q reserve
With reserve such as has been advo-
Gated by the general staff. organizations
the addition Of trained men. Any plan
that will fill our organizations to wal
strength with men who have q reasonable
amount OF military training is preferable
to having the few highly trained men
and mass Of unframed recruits. The
latter weakens the entire organisation
not only by their proneness to camp dis.
eases through lack OF military training
but also through their liability to panic
thus demoralizing whatever number OF
trained men the organization maintains
It therefore seems to this division thai
the question OF the length Of the tern
OF enlistment should be considered only
in connection with the broader one Of
reserves. The question should call -fol
decision between fve-year enlistment.
without reserves or q much shorter one
with the c0lorA and then passage into
the reserves. Five-year enlistment,
would necessarily result In fewer citi
gems Of the United States receiving mill.
tary training. whereas a reverse policy
should obtain