Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-18
PERSHING SAYS
CITIZEN ARMY
is IMPORTANT
National Guard and Reserve
Units to Be Given COmpe-
tent Training.
PLANS ARE OUTLINED


10 the regular Army, the most important
peace time duty OF all regular Army Off
GERS is the development OF the National
Guard and organized reserves, according
to the instructions just issued by General
Pershing 10 all corps area commanders
and to the commanding generals. Phillip
pines, Hawaiian, and Panama Canal de-
partments.
The special mission Of the regular OIL
Gers. in making effective the intent Of Con-
gress for the Army under the new plan OF
organization, is emphasized, and the ne
cessity Of selecting from among the most
efficient officers those for duty with the
guard and with the reserves is impressed
on all commanding officers.
In assuming the Office OF chief of stan,
General Pershing, in his letter, said:
Il wish to call your attention especially
TO the important duties Of that office In
directing the organization and training
Of the Army Of the United States which
now includes not only the regular Army,
but the National Guard and the organized
reserves.
AREA COMMANDERS
IMPORTANT FACTOR.
IN considering those duties in the light
OF the new law, I wish to impress upon
corps area commanders the provision
which assigns to them the detailed de-
velopment OF the National Guard and the
organized reserves. The relation OF the
War Department to this organization Is
largely directive and is limited in general
70 the issuance OF regulations and IN
structions as to policy, the assignment
Of suitable personnel, and verincatlon OF
progress.
THE success. then, OF the great ma
tionaI organization contemplated by the
law really depends upon the initiative,
interest. energy and organizing ability OF
corps area commanders
at was the evident intent OF Con-
rress 70 provide a permanent peace
organization for our traditional citizen
armies which heretofore have always
been extemporized after the occurrence
Of an emergency.
AS the law especially encourages the
voluntary enrolment OF veterans OF the
war IN localized tactical units Of the
citizen army, as it specifically contem-
plates the perfectuation Of the spirit
and traditions Of the divisions and
other units which actually partici-
mated In the world war. and as Il pro
vides means OF military training TO pre-
pare civilians for enrolment IN the or
ganized citizen forces. it IS clear that
the purpose OF the law IS 10 build up
and maintain a permanent military or
CaniZatiOn-
ALL EXPECTED
TO CONTRIBUTE.
'sUnder the general terms Of the law
the chief OF staff IS made responsible
for the success OF this great national
undertaking. Equally. under the terms
Of the law. the corps area commanders
ere also responsible within the limits
Of their respective commands. In a
larger sense, all officers Of the regular
army are likewise expected to contribute
their interest, their sympathy, and their
assistance IN perfecting this organiZa-
ton.
II would therefore. impress upon you
and the other corps area commanders,
and through you upon al officers OF the
regular army, the fact that under the
spirit OF this Law their most important
mission in time OF peace. next after as
surfing a highly efficient and we'll
trained regular army, is the development
OF the National Guard and the organ
lied reserves.
In thus emphasizing the duty Of reg
ular Army officers toward the reserve
forces, I am not unmindful Of the fact
that the organization Of the regular Army
itself, at its reduced strength is still IN
settled and that many dificu problems
affecting its distribution and shelter de-
mand solution in the immediate future.
"Congrss has provided the enlisted per
sonnet for only q small regular Army,
but Il has authorized and wishes to en-
courage the employment Of regular Of
fcers on appropriate duties with the Ma
tional Guard, the organized reserves, and
the reserve officers training corps.
REGULAR OFFICERS TO
ASSIST CITIZEN ARMY.
at must be accepted as the obvious
purpose of Congress that those officers
who can be spared from the regular
Army shall be employed in developing
and perfecting the two other components
Of the army. Our affairs must be so ad-
5usted that a considerable portion Of the
officers Of the regular Army will be avail
able for duty for the citizen armies, ia
der the several corps area commanders,
70 assist in the administration. training
and development OF large elements Of the
Army.
''It is nv view that the mission as
gigned to the officers of the regular
Army to create an efficient peace army
Is most important Under the law they
become not merely officers OF the regular
Army, responsible for its high standard,
but they become the permanent or pro-
fessional part of the larger officer corps
OF the Army.
'In view Of the broadened relations
Of this new army to our national life,
our officers should realize the new Op-
portunities that thus come to them for
public service.
MISSIONS OF DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE ARMY
ANY lingering feeling OF partisanship
for the regular Army as a separate or
ganization should be avoided. The goal
should be the success of each component
Of the Army, each within its proper
sphere.
"The separate missions OF the different
parts Of the Army should be borne in
mind. The National Guard, IN whole or IN
part, is liable to service as Z first rein
forcement OF the regular Army in minor
emergencies. The organized reserves sre
fable 10 military service only in the event
Of : serious national emergency, especial
~ proclaimed by Congress-
att is believed that a misunderstanding
Of this relation has often resulted in IN
desirable rivalry between the friends Of
these two forces. Officers Of the regular
Army detailed for duty with either OF
these forces should therefore cooperate
fully in the development o: the other
"It is important that the organization
Of the National Guard should be main
tanned as near the fun authorized strength
as practicable.
"The requirements for the development
Of units Of the organized reserves for the
present may be satisfied If they contain
q full quota OF competent officers with .
reasonable quota OF noncommissioned