Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-31
PERSH|NG OPPOSES
PLAN NF0R BIG ARMY
War Department Proposa! Is
Too Costly, He Tells Com
mittees of Congress
ASKS LESS THAN 100000
RN the Assnciaicd Press

Washington, Oct 31.-Disagreeing
with War Department recommenda-
tions for permanent army of 100000
men, General Pershing today told a
joint meeting of the Senate and House
military committee that he thought the
number could be placed at Fan outside
figure of 2T5 900 TO 300 900. and posi-
bly, less.
The cost of maintaining large army,
the general said. was an element which
would make it impracticable to set the
figure any higher.
The general said the regular army
should be sufficient to protect the ma
tion against sudden attack and to meet
Americas international obligations,
both on the American continent and
elsewhere, and that this should be
backed by 'trained citizen reserve"
General Pershing. who appeared at
special session of the committees which
are considering q permanent military
policy. urged universal training.
Military training makes better citi
2cns. he declared. Its benefits should
he extended to all our young men.
Through service it increases their
physique, it broadens the view of life,
and it is democratic
1T is necessary in time of war that
the decision as 10 organization of corps
and service be left to the President, and
| believe the authority should be left
10 him in time of peace; Some provision
should be made by which the President
could get rid at any time of an inetii
cient man who happened to become a
bureau chief.
Provisions of the Senate bill, Cen
cral Pershing said. created "too many
general officers. Our traditions call
for fewer men Of these ranks, he
added
Reserve officers, the general con
tinued, should be definitely classified
into three groups, one available Tor
training troops in peace time, one for
service during any national distur-
bance. and the other available only IN
war time He declared all of them
should be given standing assignments
to definite military organizations.
There was a burst of handclapping
when General Pershng entered the
committee room and the audience arose:
Four officers of his staff accompanied
him. laden with portfolios OF papers.
He had prepared no statement in ad,
vance. the staff men said, but mad
worked until midnight assembling data.
General Pershing." said Chairman
Wadsworth. of the Senate committee,
"the committees are exceedingly giad
to have YOU with us 10 express your
ideas on the military policy of the coun
try and legislation for the reorganiza
ton of the army.
'I'm glad of the opportunity, Gen =
eral Pershing returned. THE obliga =
ton Of deciding upon the definite policy
of national defense is q matter for ma :
tiopal consideration. We have Jus'
emerged successfully from great mill
tary conflict and the victory was due
TO the great national efforts.
"Our success was not due to oui
preparedness. but to the exceptiona
conditions which made it possible tt
prepare adequately after hostilities be
gan"
Confronted with the objections o!
committee members who oppose univer
| sal service, General Pershing SAID ne
| had made no estimate of the cost OF sucl
a program. He indicated also that ht
had no fixed opinion as to the exac'
length of the training period, putting
| IL first "at short time and later say
ing he would prefer six months to three
months.
How was it our soldiers not pro
duced by military training. could bea
trained Germans asked Senator Nc
Kellar, Democrat, of Tennessee.
i "You overlook Ghe fact that "" ha.t
! Allies holding the line for, year,
General Pershing responded. 1T il
possible that if we had had trained
army to throw into battle in 1877 W
could have ended the war right then
That doesn't strain the imagination t.
conceive that quick an ending