The Cordova daily times., 1921-06-14
BENEFIT FROM
 RESERVE ARMY
 T0BETWO-FOLD
BY COL. WINFIELD JONES Especial Correspondence)

iSSSi VI aiiis To SNdSlly III lluo WlIA a similar suggestion made in this correspondence some months ago, when it was pointed out that the four million American veterans of the World war are now the real backbone of the national defense, though unorganized at present, and these experienced fighters would be the first line of defense in event of another war, should that war come within the next ten or fifteen years.
 When that was written your cor respondent suggested that all this ex- traordinary military personnel should be kept together in some sort of an organization, even if that organiza- tion be purely voluntary and not wholly under the jurisdiction of the war department, that is not with the same control now exercised over the national guard or the organized army reserves. Of course such an organ ization necessarily would have to have great assistance from the war department.
 A voluntary military organization of the veterans of the World war could be formed without authority of the war department or of congress, but special legislation would be ne- cessary to make it an effective force, and to supply it with arms and equip ment
 General Pershing's suggestion that the division which won immortal glory on the battlefields of France should be made permanent in the new organization, is most excellent, and would go long way toward making the proposed veteran reserve army success.
 The foundation already exists for this veteran reserve army in the American Legion. the Private Sol diers' and Sailors Legion, the Vet. erans of Foreign Wars, and the Unit ed Spanish War Veterans. Some of the veterans of the war with Spain and the Philippine insurrection are getting too old now for military ser vice, but there are still several hun. dred thousands of these men who are capable of serving in a veteran reserve army.
 The great benefits which would result to the republic in the organ ization of a veteran reserve army would be two-fold. First it would be a great basis of patriotism. It would keep alive the great memories of the French campaigns. Second, 1t would be the best possible reserve If two or three millions of the vet. erans, or even million, were or ganized, these men could be called to the colors if war occurred within their active physical lifetime. and veteran reserve army of this kind would certainly be able to defend the country from invasion while other troops. voluntary or under draft system, were being raised and trained Existence of such . re- serve would enable the national guard to be sent overseas on short notice, because the veteran reserves would be powerful enough to take care of any situation which might arise in war time in this country, war when troops had to be stationed such as unhappily arose in the World in many places to guard railways, bridges, and factories. These guard ing troops were needed at that time in France but it was absolute ly necessary to keep them at home stations.
 Then, too, many of the best of- ficers of the veteran reserve could be immediately drafted for active training service with recruits. One of our great handicaps when the World war began was lack of offic- CTS. There are plenty now and will be for the next twenty years, among the veterans.
 The veterans reserve army could be made a permanent organization and need not necessarily last only during the lifetime of the World war veterans. It could be so organized that when the veterans of the World war, in the course of time, leave this earthly stage or become too old for active service younger men who had served enlistments in the