Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1921-10-31

history OIL CHS iSolOSSeuHl IroU carry
times. It states that Popes Clement
new law to perpetuate the frame
work of the organization developed
in the world war so that its tremen-
'dous cost can be funded as a perma-
tlent investment for all time"
Had such a system as is now well
advanced toward establishment been
erected after the civil war, the Off
Ger adds, Gin 1898 more divisions
than were needed for the war with
Spain could have begun their ex-
pansion within twenty-four hours af-
ter the declaration of hostilities."
Mobilization in 1917" Col. Palm
er continues, "would have proceeded
as decentralized process and NOT
as great centralized process upset.
ting the economic life of the nation.
1t would not have been necessary to
spend millions for great concentrat-
ed training camps or to overburden
the railroads with unclassified per-
sonnet and material in order to or
ganize and train, and equip, and pro-
vide officers all at the same time.
Such a national organization must
have saved months in time and mill
ions in money"
Col. Palmer points out that Stone
wall Jackson alone of leader on Ell
their side in the civil war entered
the contest with knowledge of what
staff work meant. He had studied
Napoleons troop orders and in the
first battle Of the war, Col. Palmer
says, Showed that even raw troops
can stand like a stone wall if the pre-
valent rawness does NOT extend to
the craftsmanship Of the commander
To meet such situation, the new
military policy imposes on the regu-
lar army the duty of training in
peace times the men on whom must
of necessity fall the burden of COM
mand and direction of great forces
in war. From this arises the pres
ent distribution of the regulars into
divisional areas which underlay the
corps and army area structure. 1t
is not expected, officers say, that
more than a division ever will be
brought together in peace times, but
through practice in handling divi-
sional unit of 10000 or so men, train
ing can be impaired, it is felt, to fit
future leaders to handle corps or ar
mics in battle.
From its role as staff college, also
comes the demand of the army for 4
larger proportion of officers than the
actual enlisted strength of any pro.
gable regular force would require
These extra officers would play little
part in the actual peace time employ.
ment of the army as such or even II
small emergency that required on
" the regulars to meet the nations
! needs. They would be under train
ing in a staff functions and in turf
: &c passing on their knowledge to the
National Guardsmen and Reserve
Z Officers and the whole scheme Of kee
ing the country up to date in a mil
teyy sense without keeping any
substantial force under arms at an!
me res. en- this provision, it is as
serted.
CAS- organization Of the Glitter
army (the guard and the organized
reserves) progress, it will become
apparent that men who hope to Leaf
in war must train for and join thu
army of the United States in tint
of peace. The result will be tina
those young men who decline to pro
fit by the facilities for training af
forded them in time of peace mus
expect to serve only in the rear ranl
or as requirements in war"
Col. Palmer says that while con
gress rejected the universal train
ing proposals of the original Wads
worth bill, it did create "the germ
of a system for voluntary training
which had been worked out througl
regulations to its illogical organiza
ton" and which would be prepare
to receive and train "the entire ma
power of the nation either in peac
or war whenever it may become ad
4 visable or necessary" For the pre-
sent it is only expected to provide
so far sthe organized reserves &C
he added, for the officers, non-com
missioned officers, specialists and :"
reasonable number of aspirants' 70
| promotion to officer grades afte
Y training.