The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-01


heavy cost. are sharply emphasized in
a war department bulletin soon to be
issued giving the first official picture OF
the new national defense structure pro
jectcd in the reorganizcd army of the
United States
One lesson zones direct from the
battefields of France, 1t is that Of
ficient staff work is vital to modern
military operations, and with it goes
the correlory that staff functions can
not be learned over night
The other comes from the war time
din and confusion of the centralized
training camps at home. 1t is that ef-
ficicnt mobilization of the nations
fighting strength can be carried out
only as decentralized process through
agencies set up in times of peace.
Realization that these lessons must
be workd into the new military policy
If perlous delay and costly confusion
which preceded past mobilizations were
to be avoided has marked the effort
of the war department. The bulletin
shows that it has attempted to write
regulations under the revised national
defense act that would furnish clean
cut scheme for war mobilization without
violating national traditions against
militarism or creating machinery that
would impose heavy burdens in peace
times upon the taxpayers.
Far Reaching Effort
The project undertaken probably is
the most far reaching military effort
the nation has ever attempted in peace
times
The foundation work has been done
All over the country decentralized ma
chinery is being set up capable, its de-
signers believe, If getting the nation
on war footing with little delay and
confusion. Yet it is felt that the ma
tion at large and even the most i'm
portant links in the new defense chain
the regular army, the national guarc
and the officers reserve corps do moi
appreciate fully what is being done.
Colonel John McPalmer, the Officer
assigned to aid congress in framing
the legislation making it all possbl,
and who has devoted himself to &
study of the subject, was called upor
to furnish the document and his worl
is to go to all parts of the new
army as a means of preventing mis-
understanding.
Colonel Palmer points out that a
the conclusion of previous wars. th'
United States scrapped all it ha'
learned in battle and demobilzed with
out any attempt to carry those cost
ly lessons on to younger generation
for their protection and aid in time o
war. Veterans of the civil war, school
ed in soldier craft, skilled in stat
work and the handling of might.
forces with minimum confusion il
movement and minimum losses in bat
tie. went back to civil life, he says
and lost all touch with military mat
ters When the war with Spain came
their knowledge was lost to the me-
of 1898. 1t was necessary to bull
again from the ground up. and 19l
saw this waste repeated, the bulleti
asserts.
Purpose Of New Scheme
The purpose of the new scheme q
welding the regulars, the natiopa
guard and the organized reserves int
the army of the United States
peace times is defined by Colonel Pa
mer as follows:
ut is primarily the object OF ou
new law to perpetuate the framewor
of the organization developed in tn
World War so that its tremendous cos
, can be funded as a permanent inves
ment for all time"
Had such a system as is now we
, advanced toward establishment bee
| erected after the civil war. the office
, adds, "in 1898 more divisions than wer
: needed for the War with Spain coul
, have begun their expansion within
: hours after the declaration of hostil
ties"
Mobilization In 1911" Col. Paine
continues. would have proceeded az
decentrali2ed process and not as
: great centralized process upsetting n
economic life OF the nation. 1t woul
= not have been necessary to spend mi
lions for great concentrated trainin
camps or to ovcrburden the railroad
with unclassified personnel and mi
tcrial in order To organize and trai
and equip and provide officers all .
the same time. Such a national orgai
ization must have saved months
time and millions In money"
Colonel Palmer points Out tn
Stoncwall Jackson alone Of leaders G
either side in the Civil War enterC
! the contest with knowledge of whit
staff work meant. lie had studi,
Napoleon's troop orders and In u
first battle Of the war, Colonel ~
mer says. showed that even ra
, troops can stand like stor
wall if the prevalent rawness does NJ
|, extend to the craftsmanship Of Il
commander"
Peace Time Training
To meet such situation. the ne
military policy imposes on the regul,
!, army the duty of training In pea,
, times the men on whom most of n
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