The Colorado statesman., 1921-07-23

gionnnlres. is much interested In tho
work soon to be undertaken Of recruit
ing the reserves OF the army, and H.
forwarding pact OF lasting good VIII
between the civilians who fought IN
the last war and the officers and men
of the regular army.
Mr.. Emery was wounded In the left
arm In France, so badly wounded thnt
he has comparatively little use OF the
injured member today. He regrets
apparently that this physical dlsabil-
ity prevents him from accepting IA com
mission In the reserves of the United
States army.
I had talk with Commander En-
cry. lie spoke as one Legion member
to another. He epitomized the lesson
which l think II Is the desire OF the
American Legion officials to see fui-
filled In spirit and In truth In the
ranks Of the former soldiers.
Would Be Soldier Citizens.
He said, I'VE were known as citizen
soldiers hope that we will be known
now as soldier citizens" This breathes
the spirit Of the service which seems
to be In the hearts OF the Legionnaires
today.
American Legion officials are inter
ested deeply In the recent Legislation
which cuts the American army to -
force of 10000 men. OF course no
Legion man thinks that an army of
this size is sufficient for the needs Of
the republic. even In peace times. They
feel also that the cut reflects wha'
to the Legionnaires seems to be the
selfish feeling Of the law makers
that II war comes, and there is not al
adequate first line of defense fore.
In the regular army, the men "who
did It before" Will Instantly be VIII
ing to do II again.
OF course, as the ex-soldiers seem
to view it. the men OF the Legion and
of other veteran organizations patriot
lcally Will offer their services to do u
again, hut nevertheless there is feel
Ing that the million young men who
come to military age every year In this
republic, and the vast crowd of slack
ers in the last war, might be compelled,
If unhappily war should come, to TAKE
on a part of the first burden which,
the belief is, will be certain to fall
under coming conditions to the lot Of
the former fighters to assume.
When 1t was proposed under the lasl
administration to maintain a regular
army of 2S0,O00, the proportion of H.,
600 commissioned officers was fixed
as being proper The army has been
reduced to 10000 men, 10000 less
than the number originally contem-
plated. Now 1t is said that congress
possibly may legislate a large num-
ber of regular army officers out of
their commissions.
Fight Against Fewer Commissions.
1t can be said from first knowledge
that the War department, and this OF
| course means the administration, will
resist any attempt to deprive some
thousands of young Americans of their
commission in the regular army. There
are today 1900 such commissioned
officers, for the force never was
brought up to the strength contem
plated when the proposal for an army
of 2SO,OOO men was made. Admitted
ly, however. an army of 10000 would
be over-commanded If 1900 officers
were assigned to active duty with
the troops.
The contention of the War depart
| ment is however, that even with the
reduced number of men in the ranks
there will not be too many commits
stoned officers If the present number
1900, is kept at work. 1t is said
there is plenty to be done by that part
of the commissioned personnel which
is not serving actively with the
troops.
A large number of officers the au
thorities say, must be assigned to duty
in connection with the reserves, the
National Guard, the army schools, ant
to staff work The authorities hol6
that there would he a crippling OF
the service If congress should take the
action of reduction which 1t has been
suggested it may attempt.
The War department is not slow tc
point out the justice side of the mat
ter. The department is borne out by
the records when 1t says that there
was an appeal made by the government
of the United States to young men
to enter the regular army as officers
and to make the service their life
work. AS result hundreds upon hun
dreds of them gave over good paying
positiops In civil life and entered the
army In response to the call.
Lincoln Statue Put Back.
Sentiment in Washington has COM
pelled the return to Its former
site of the statute of Abraham
Lincoln which stood In front of the
district court building facing John
Marshall place. There was objection
TO the statue because 1t was said to
be inartistic Perhaps 1t was, but II
was the first statue of Lincoln which
| ,..nu nut In in the canltal city. and