The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-22
High Privates Easily Found But Trouble
Experienced In Supplying Quota of 10000
Officers for Peace. Time United States Army

Washington, Nov. 22.-Little diff
Guilty in obtaining the 200, 900 men
necessary to make VI the peace-time
army authorized by congress, is an
ticipated, Major General March. chief
OF staff, sad in his annual report
made public today by the war depart
ment. The problem of obtaining the
l7,1l7 officers needed for the reor-
ganized army is difficult, however.
and was rendered more so. General
March said, by the delay in the en-
actment nj legislation governing the
reorganization of the army.
The magnitude of the problem OF
selecting the additional officers re-
CURED to complete the permanent
complement" said General March.
and the tremendous effect which will
inevitably be exercised upon the flu.
ture efficiency of the entire army
by the character and qualifications of
the new officers TO he selected, is
indicated by the fact that the actual
strength OF the entire army in COM
missioncd officers on April t, 1917. was
but $3.50 Of whom about $50 held
provisional appointments"
The general added that the problem
was further complicated by the re-
signation of 1,647 regular officers
in the fiscal year ending last June
80, the period covered by his report.
Approximately $4,000 applications
from former officers and reserve off
GERS for transfer to the regular es-
adjustment were received by the war
department before the lists were closed
the general continued, and the task OF
selecting from these applicants, the
ten thousand additional officers need
ed to FL out the army quota is still
under way,
General March bad this to say
Of the army reorganization legisla-
ton passed by the last congress:
The act provides for a regular
army of approximately go 900 men
and 1900 officers. 1t does not pro-
vide for universal military training
nor for the application of the draft
system in further emergencies. II may
be stated without further qualifica
tons that an adequate reserve OF
trained soldiers available for use in
an emergency is an essential prere-
Quisite To any plan for national de-
Tense and the creation and mainten-
ance OF such reserve without mill
tary training is impossible"
General March said a new and per-
manent policy whereby the war de-
partment definitely assures the re-
sponsibility for the education and re-
creation of the enlisted personnel
has been promulgated as the result
Of war experiences and 1.-The illiteracy
so strikingly prevalent in the draft
army F%unctioning through these sec
lions. education. camp activities and
moral training, the new service. Cen
eral March said, has set up machinery
to train techn'cians and mechanics to
meet the army's needs and To raise
the soldiers general intelligence in
order 10 increase his military eff
ficiency and to fit the soldier for a
definite occupation upon his re-
turning to civil life"
Reviewing the work OF American
military force abroad, General March
disclosed that the cost OF maintaining
the American army of occupation on
the Rhine up 10 last June 80 had been
s257. coo. 200 which Germany is obi
gated 10 pay under the terms of the
armistice. OF the total due, the gen.
eral said, already more than $4,000
600 has been paid or l%iquidated. leay-.
ing approximately seq, 600. 900 due the
United States from Germany.
The American occupation in Ger
many, the general added, has been
clean, dlgnified, just and forceful,
free from tyranny and characterized
by a minimum OF friction with the
ITS success has been largely due
to the high character and common
sense OF the American officers and
the general continued. They
have lived up TO their instructions
to make the government fair. just,
dignified, in accordance with the
laws Of war and the best traditions
the American army. The American
people may We'll be proud OF their
conduct and their accomplishments.
with regard TO the situation on the
Mexican border General March said;
The necessity for protecting our
southern border has continued during
e The duties performed in
rluded patrolling the border To pre-
vent bandits drom crossing tho in
Icrnatiunal line and making raids into
the United States and committing
t%epredations against the lives and
property OF American citizens. While
i was not practicable TO maintain
1 continuous guard along the entire
border the troops were so distributed
hat information concerning raids
night be acted upon with sufficient
oromptness TO minimize the dangers
.hcrefrom."
Reviewing the rehabilitation Of the
lrmy now completed. General Morch
exported that in returning TO civil
ife the $4,000 enlisted men and $4,000
OF hat army remaining In
July !. 1919. the department
Il policy of releasing the men
,nt rcouirad for military purposes