The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-29
PLAN BIG RESERVE
FOR REGULAR ARMY
Shorter Terms of Enlistment
Would Train Much Larg-
er Body of Men.
A MILITARY SCHOOL
The Army Will Be For Train
ing Men in the Defense OF
the Country.
MILITARY SCHOOL
National News Association)

(National News Association)
WASHINGTON, March Coon.
trary to general opinion, the policy OF
military reform suggested recently by
Secretary of War Garrison is not a
new proposition, but is in line with
/ the suggestions which have come from
the general staff for the last four
years. It is highly probable that the
activity OF the present. secretary OF
war will result ins1 Accomplishment
of some of the t5lHgs. which in the
past have been purely matters Of dis.
Cussion.
With the establishment of period
OF enlistment for three years. with an
option at the conclusion of two years,
manning in civil life except for short
periods Of summer service, Major Gen
Leonard Wood, chief of staff of the
army expects to have big increase in
recruits.
Another Good Effect.
This shortening in the enlistment
term will have another good effect for
which army officers have striven inef-
fectually for years The enlisted man
will not be forced to spend most of
his time doing police duty" which is
q polite term for hoeing gardens,
sweeping up leaves, mending roads
and performing a number of unmili-
4ar,, d,t;ac HaparaI uynod 10 apfh,,
siasticalIy of the bshef that the sol.
dier OF the future when the shortened
term has been in vogue for sometime,
will devote his time entirely to solder
ing and SO, at the end of his short
term, will be fitted to go forth on the
battlefield and take care of himself
The general plan of shortening en-
Hstments will make the army mill
tary school where men will receive
splendid training for two years and
then be permitted to return unhamp-
cred to civil life This is the only way,
most army officers contend, that the
army of this nation may be put on a
real war footing
This particular phase of military tao
tics was discussed by Gen. Wood re-
Gently.
Big Army Always Ready.
When we go to war; said he, eve
will find it is necessary to mobolize
Instantly an army of 100000 men. This
army would be needed absolutely if we
are to protect our various ports and
guard against the sudden landing of a
"a, TIL
would have to be established in differ
ent parts of the country.
'The disability to an army in war
through all causes of course-is about
SIS per cent. Thus it will be seen
that with total fighting strength 1t
would be impossible to resist an in
vader, while the raw recruits away
from the scene of hostilities were be-
ing whipped into shape as a reserve.
1t is ridiculous to assume that with
small but efficient arm that phrase
is the one used by the opponents of
the proposed change) this nation
could hold off a large army OF invaders
until force of recruits could be pre-
pared for war.
ITO send recruits into battle before
they had been trained would be In.
human. No man need 60 beyond the
Civil war. with it's terrible loss of life,
TO realize it's deadly danger of sending
unframed men on the field of battle.
The proposed change will give us
men in all ranks of life who know
how to be soldiers. Then when there
came call for volunteers we could
1~1Fa npons the newly enlisted men.
ar the short term enlist
IEpaders in developing
ers in time of war. -
h sof Canteen.
ID ecl1l with this thought it
as noticeable that the army will. from
this time forth. give more considera.
tion to the treatment of the figghting
men than has been done in past years
1t is probable that strong fight will
be made to bring back the canteen
sand thus do away with the dives
(which have been protested against by
all ofiicsrs. Whether this can be &C
U0mplished or not, it is certain that
oveEything which can add to the pleas
Nhe OF the enlisted mans life will be
attempted by the department.
Secretary Garrison's announcement
that desertion will be made by mis-.
demeanor instead of an offense punish
able by Imprisonment in peniten.
ttary and loss of citizenship is accept
ed as the beginning of the newer
era
The plan to reduce the gravity OF
the offense of deser.ion has met with
general approval. The officers declare
that incarceration in a barracks built
for the purpose and term of hard
work is sufficient punishment for the
young soldier who becomes tired oil
his duties and Jumps his job" II
desertion were not made so serious
MOST men would not attempt it. is the
belief OF oficers who compare ii to the
inability of severe criminal laws to
lessen crime.
Muddy Complexion.