New-York tribune., 1919-09-03
sanding Army
Plan Opposed
By Gen. O'Ryan
commander of 9th Tells
Senate Committee That
Il Compulsory Training of
!! Bows Is Better Method
rlrges 100000 Reserve
toldier Aim l. War. While
! That of Trained Citizen l.
for Peace. He Declares
Nm W I,rfhu,,l

Il Ne,r YorE Tribune
i Washington Bvrcae
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-Maior
rsueral John +. O'Ryan, commander of
H. 9th Division, to-day opposed the
Gar Department Plan for the roor-
sspizatior of the army before the
ssnata Military Affairs Committee and
ssyocated system OF compulsory mill
.ry training that would sve the
roited States 100000 trained fight
,rs in a period Of SIX years at small
traction OF the cost Of a large standing
,rny.
Ian for standing army Of 100000
nsn. which General March SAID would
H. necessary under the league Of ma
ldons. condemned the whole scheme.
Esnerai o Ryan said. The principal
,Nsson of tile var, he asserted was
Nat the combined efforts of the entire
nation were necessary 70 VIII. and chat
standing army could not be the de-
ciding factor.
Calls War Armv's Aim
a CjtNtS> i+.i4ca- t-- +-tl ttl. : war,
said Genera ORyau. The object Of
citizen scidiary is tne prevention Of
war. TrC Drof9 9ss.orai soldier has no
outlook EXCEPT through war. while a
citizen SO licrs whole idea is pre-
paredress to pra vent war
Genera. O. N-ar scheme provides
for the training O., 100000 young men
anaualy They Houll receive three
-,-f
rest q Their training woaId consist of
weekly Grl.ls and annual manoeuvres
The training officers would be selected
from the list of honorably discharged
officers oi the present way. chosen es-
pscla-ly for their ability TO train men.
They would Seep the training out of
the harcs Of the regular army.
Such & scheme would not be 2 men
ace 20 peace declared the General.
1t would give IS maximum Of pre-
psrecress a. aleim1m OF eNpense.'
General 0'AEaG explained that the
Nation. G-ara could he merged into
the citizen army scheme wl-hout seri-
eas ai.ticatfy. he suggested that to
avoid conflict WITH the states. The Gov
errors should retain -heir power TO
.ssue orders 10 1he troops within their
own states
General O'Rvan praised the work o.
lie National Guard troops during the
Far. dee ari0g treT had proved "a
pretty de3endab'e institution" His d.
's en-, ae said, had Gwen about 5000
aacers for 're arm.
senator Wadswor-h, chairman Of the
coz = tee ca led . .entIon to the fact
rat 1Herc was TO e.fort in the War
.'7pal ln-e nj s ni-l 70 preserve the local
sentry o. trocas asee- they had been
VA. 4 that 10 provision was made
% hl5sA regioaal units. General
--yas. agreed thai thiS was q serious
-e-eei asd would result in difficulties
SIM ~ u those experienced in the
triy days o. t-e var in organizing the
"a, .ona Army He declared that 10
,-HtT rrile' rad q tremendous value
ii ,.naln'e'nln.g thy morale Of troops.
Jon mat + a citizen army III the kind
he had suggested we're established il
would be possible 70 reduce the regula,
army - about 100000 men
a Little Ireland
General O'Ryan referred 10 the an
tagonism that has existed in the pas
between tee National Guard and til,
regular army. and SAID the regular
officers had heen making a little Ire
land our of the National Guard by CIV
Ing 1t 10 sentatlon.
Cnder article 1l9 OF the Revised
Artio'es Of War. he said. every Office.
appointed trom any other source wa.
made the junior TO officers of th'
same grad. appointed from the reguIa.
army.
"Waen was made a major general
on Angus 8, 1911. was nineteenth OF
the list bl' being the or y major gen
era appointed from the National Guard
every new major general appointe,
IRON -he regular army ranked ab0v'
NJ The longer 7 served the furthel
Went back
w here are you now?" asked Senator
Wadsworth.
m afraid O look
bli you know where to look sug
geStet Senator New.
Yes. a. ne very bottom Of the list
oenerAl o Ryan responded.
Speaking of the nth Division, Gen
era o Ryan said:
They We're quiet, orderly au'
oOed .eat They had tremendou
mora and made wonderful fighters
4arsaal Haig reviewed the diVislo 10
Snort after We reached the othe
sae and ne was greatly impresae,
with the spirit the men displayed.