New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-18
Pershing Unites
Reserve, Guard
And Regulars
Chief of Staff Issues I'm
structions Carrying Out
Congressional ideas of
Peace-Timc Organization
Training Is Encouraged
Officers Ordered TO Give
Best Efforts to Making
Every Branch Efficient
Frem TAe Tribune,s Wa.Ainoton Rureau


WASHINGTON, July IA policy
of welding the National Guard, the
organized reserves and the regular
army into ar efficient whole, prepared
at all times for any eventuality, was
set forth by General Pershing, chief of
staff, in letter made public to-day
to all corps commanders and COM
manding generals of the Philippine,
Hawaiian and Panama Canal depart
ments.
1t is believed here that in setting out
at the very beginning of his career as
chief of staff to encourage the National
Guard and the organized reserves, Gem
eral Pershing will win the hearty APP
prevail of National Guardsmen through
out the country and those who are in
terested in building up the reserves
and enhancing the Importance of the
citizen soldiery.
An important feature of the plan
of General Pershing Is that he insists
the. most efficient officers of the army
should be detailed to organize and train
viz 4NdtiVudl dQdIQ ana reserves.
Spirit and Traditions"
The letter follows:
at was the evident intent of Con-
gress to provide paramount neace
organization for our traditional citi
zen armies, which have always been
eXtemporized after the occurrence of
an emergency. AS the law especially en-
courages the voluntary enrolment of
veterans of the war in localized tao
teal units of the citizen army. as it
specifically contemplates the perpetua.
ton of the spirit of traditions of the
divisions and other units which actually
participated in the World War. and az
it provides means of military trainino
TO prepare civilians for enrolment in
the organized citizen forces. it is
clear that the purpose of the law is to
nuIid up and maintain q permanent
military organization.
Under the general terms of the law
the chief of staff is made responsible
Tor. the success Of this great national
Undertaking. Equally under the terms
OF the Ia" the corps area commanders
are also responsible within the limits of
their respective commands: In larger
sense all officers OF the regular army
are likewise expected to contribute
their interest, their sympathy and their
assistance in perfecting this oreaniza-
ton.
Problems To Be Faced
L would, therefore. impress upon
you and the other corps Sarea com
manders, and through you upon all off
GERS of the regular army, the fact that
under the spirit of this law their most
important mission in time of peace.
next after assuring highly efficient
nd ven trained regular army. is the
development Of the National Guard and
the organized reserves In thus en-
pnnaslzinS the duty of regular army
officers toward the reserve forces. I am
not unmndful of the fact that the or
sanizatlon of the regular army itself
ut its reduced strength is still un
settled and that many difficult prob
lens affecting its distribution and shell
ter cemand solution in the immediate
future.
Congress has provided the enlisted
personnel Tor only a small regular
army, but it has authorized and wishes
TO encourage the employment of regu-
lar officers on appropriate duties with
the National Guard, the organized re-
serves and the reserve officers training
corps. 1T must be accepted as the OBJ
viou5 purpose Of Congress that those
officers who can be spared from the
regular army shall be employed in de-
veloping and perfccting the other two
ccomponents of the army of the United
states. Our affairs must be so ad-
lusted that considerable portion of
the officers Of the regular army will be
available for duty with the citizen
armies under the several corps area
commanders to assist in the admins
tration, training and development of
the larger elements of the army of the
United States.
"Broadened Relations
ut is my view that the mission as
signed to the officers of the regular
army to create an efficient peace army
is most important. Under the law they
become not merely officers of the regu-
lar army responsible for it's high stand
ards, but they become the permanent or
professional part of the larger officers
avoided. The goal should be the sue
cess of each component of the army
of the United States, each within its
proper sphere.
The separate missions of the diff
ferent parts of the army of the United
States should be borne in mind. The
National Guard in whole or in part is
liable to service as a first reinforce
ment of the regular army in minor
emergencies. The organized reserves
are liable to military service only in
the event of a serious national emer-
gency especially proclaimed by Con-
gress. 1t is believed that a msun-
derstanding of this relation has often
resulted in undesirable rivalry between
the friends of these two forces. Off
GERS of the regular army detailed for
duty withe either of these forces
should. therefore, cooperate fully in
the development of the other. 1t is i'm
portant that the organization of the
National Guard should be maintained