Evening star., 1921-05-09
PERSH|NG FOR BIG
CITIZEN RESERVE
Urges Nations Young Men
to Attend Training Camps
This Summer.
NEEDED IN EMERGENCIES
Wonderful Chance to Develop
Physical Vigor and Manli-
ness. SAYS General.

Gen. PershinC has appealed to the
young mon Of the country to attend
tho citizens training camps to be held
tins summer and thus aid the War
Department to build up a trained
citizen reserve organized to meet the
emergency of war
our position and influence in world
affairs said Gen. FcrShing "arc not
treasured by our wealth and popula
tion. nor by our free and liberal
form Of government. but by our pur-
pose to maintain tn" high principles
OF justice and. humanity upon which
rur institutions are founded. The full
fllment of this purpose depends upon
oar readiness to defend its integrity.
our traditions are opposed to the
maintenance of large standing
army. hut we have perSiStently failed
10 train our citizen soldiers in time
"f peace and have waited until war
Was declared before making any move
to that end. while recognizing the
principle that every citizen may be
called as soldier. We have never en-
phasiZed the obligation OF the indi-
vidual TO prepare himself to serve his
country. Yet that is a debt to the
country that falls upon all of us.
From a purely military standpoint
our policy should provide. first. d per-
manent military establishment large
enough to guard against sudden at
tack: second. a force sufficient TO
meet our international obligations,
particularly on the American conti-
lent: third. such force as may be nee
.ssary to meet our internal require
mcnts: fourth. Il trained citizen re-
serve organized to meet the emer-
Ecncy of war.
Many benefits result from the sys-
tcma:ic training of civilians through
such camps as the War Department
proposed to conduct. the general con-
tinued. including the inculcation in
the youth of the country of a respect
for constituted authority and the
principles of self discipline. Such
training also encourages initiative
snd gives young men confidence in
their abilities in addition to develop i
ing physical vigor and manlinesS and !
fostering the national spirit of pa
triotism. the general added.
Rare Chance for Development.
"Ey providing such course of |
young man opportunity for de- !
Nelopment which he can get in no !,
other way" he contended. 1T is es- !
pecially needed among our alien pop |
ulation. large percentage of whom |
are illiterate. All these benefits |
men who composed our forces during /
the war, who, as result. have be- |
come our most patriotic citizens"
AS head of the newly created gen. |
eral headquarters staff, charged with !
the duty of directing the American |
forces in the field in time of war |
Gen. Pershing will have much to do /
with the future training and organi- |
Zation of the nations military re- |
serves. In his statement he char
acterized the traditions. achieve /
mentS and high ideals of the Ma
tional Guard and National Army |
units valuable national asset !
and expressed the belief that these |
organizations should be held to-
gether as reserve divisions. into
which young men could pass after
finishing course in the civilian !
training camps or an enlistment in !
the Army.