Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-07
Sound Advtce From Pershing
Is the conditions upon which ne predl-
Gates 1t that gives chief interest to

i
Gates it that gives chief interest to
IL Ganeral Pershiug's statement that in
his Judgment a standing army OF nVe nun
dred thousand for this country is needleSsly'
indeed extravagantly, large. so tnoroueh
going a soldier would not be found opposinS
the War Departments proposition Ior NH
tary establishment of half million men IL ne
did not have an alternative which ne con
siders much better from the standpoint OF
preparedness and general efficiency. IN IacC
one can easily infer from his remarks TO the
Congressional committee that he Would
count standing army five hundred thou-
sand altogether Inadequate unless sup
nlemented by frst-class aeronautlc serV-
ice and backed by a dependable reserve.
These conditions being met, regular army
of not more than three hundred thousand
would suffice. Such il the matured opinion
of the nations foremost military man.
The American people have been radition-
ally opposed to anything like excessive
armament but they have learned through
vivid experience the cost and peril or
unpreparedness Prompt and wonderfully
vigorous though the country was in an
swering the demands of the late war; we
now can see as we look back upon those hur-
ried days that millions in treasure could have
been saved and many months in time nave
been gained had there been a broader base
. and a better starting point for the gigantic
energies put forth. AS it was, we placed
great army in France far earlier than the
enemy ever imagined we could; we met the
emergency with an eZpedit1ousness most
creditabIe both to leaders and to the rank
and file. But suppose fortune had looked
less favorably upon our plans; suppose 1t
had been a waxing instead of a waning Ger
mrrv trat confronted us; suppose we had
been wholly dependent upon our own equip
ment and resources instead of having the
experience and cooperation Of our veteran
allies Should we not then have found the
way to victory incomparably harder and
longer than it was? And should we not have
been reminded with terrible emphasis that
we were trying to gain in a few nervous
weeks preparation which calls for deliberate
years?
The American people are mindful of that
lesson. They do not want to take another
chance where the stake is so vital and the
possibility so grim. Peace-loving they
are and friendly to reasonable plans for the
reduction of ornaments, they want their ma
tional defense looked to diligently and be-
times.
But they instinctivey oppose a larger
standing army than prudence requires, and
they welcome every we'll considered plan for
realizing this innate preference without i'm
pairing the defensive power which is really
needful. Hence the value and seasonable-
ness of General Pershin's present counsel.
A superior aeronautic service will smake an
army of three hundred thousand men more
effective than a million would be without
that vital auxiliary. And certainly an army
of three hundred thousand. backed by de-
pendable reserve will be worth intellectually
more in a great conflict than much larger
numbers with second and third lines of
defense. When it comes to particulars and
to precise specifications there is room, of
course, for wide divergence of opinion. But
matter of broad principle, the sound
ness of General Pershing's advice can hardly
be gainsaid. whether the standard be econ
omy or military efficiency. or peaceableness
Indeed 1t seems also incredible that there
should come from responsible quarters one
syllable of demurrer to the recOmmend alton
that the aviation branch of the army be up
built The lessons of the were so pla n
on this point and the present status of our
aircraft service is deplorable that one
would expect Congress to lose not a day in
making the appropriation necessary to place
America where she belongs in this highly
important sphere of national defense and
material progress. The keenest and soberest
OF military students agree that if there comes
another war it probably will open with an
air battle which will be largely if not alto
gether decisive. 1t is quite obvious that if
we are called upon to take disciplinary
measures in Mexico the first and in manv
respects most essential need of an expedi.
tionary force will be aircraft and airmen.
Yet there are not enough machines now
available to the army to make up three fulI
squadrons for duty the southern border:
and unless funds are soon forthcoming such
air service as we have will disntegrate. But
In spite of these warning circumstances Con-
gress recently refused to grant an appropria-
ton of fifteen million dollars to hold the
service together and send it constructiveIv
forward. Such refusal, if persisted in, NAV
cost the nation billions of money and a host
OF human lives. Every consideration of
economy, of military effectiveness and of
the prudent reduction of ornaments demands
that Congress take a second thought and
make ample provision for the army's aero
nautic branch.
AS to General Pershing's recomme ation
for an army reserve. it is clear that this
plan cannot be carried out unless there is
some system of general military training
His own idea is that all American youths
within certain ages should learn the abe s
of camp life and sOdierly service. This they
could be taught in such a way as not to
conflict in any wise with their regular school
ing and not to have the faintest tnge of
militarism in the Prussian sense. The fact
is this sort of training could be made richly
educational and also of high value asa de-
mocratzing influence. By this means. more
over, the United States would acquire, with
out much ado and with comparatively little
expense, an efficient reserve that would make
=. a large standing army needless and at the
- time guarantee her against unprepared-
It goes without saying that no such
y should be entered upon without care
forethought and thorough safeguards.
~B6e the principle itself. like that behind the
plea for the air service. seems eminently