Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-09

Appeals for
Reserve
Asks Support of Summer Mill.
tary Training Camps as Oh
legation of Every Ameri-
can Citizen.
Outlines the Army Policy
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.


Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, May 8.--That the
historic American divisions in the
world war should be perpetuated as
the organization of army reserves,
was proposed by General Pershing.
in appealing for public support Of
the forthcoming series of military
training camps as recognition of the
obligation of every citizen to pre-
pare himself to serve his country in
time of war.
General Pershing has been selected
by the president to head skeleton
headquarters staff organized to func-
ton instantly in TIME of war and the
general outlines for the first time, his
views of fundamental preparedness
policies
From a purely military stand
point, our policy" said General
Pershing. Should provide first,
permanent military establishment
large enough to guard against sudden
attack; second, force sufficient to
meet our international obligations,
particularly on the American con-
tinent; third, such force as may be
necessary to meet our international
requirements; fourth, a trained citi-
zen reserve organized to meet the
emergency of war. r ....
Basis For Force.
"ln considering a reserve, we al
ready have nucelus in our trained
units that have had experience in the
war. | refer to the units of the ma
tional guards as we'll as those of the
so-called national army. They have
returned with traditions, history.
pride of service and high ideals OF
citizenship, all of which constitute
a valuable asset in any organization.
| should like to see those divisions
held together, retaining their officers
insofar as their efficiency records
show them capable of performing the
duties of their respective grades. /
would retain the organization OF
these divisions and utilize them as
reserve divisions into which the
young men would pass as they come
from the army or finish in the train-
ing camps. Thereby the traditions
and the spirit of those historic units
would be kept alive to encourage and
stimulate efficiency in those who fill
their ranks in future.
Officers Needed.
"Tn a reserve army 1t should be
pointed out that there is great nee
essity for large number of
thoroughly trained officers, not only
for the combat troops, but fox the
various staff and corps and depart
ments, including the general staff
These officers should be very care
fully tested and depending his quail
fications, each should have definite
assignment to some particular unit
or headquarters. An especial effort
should be made to retain in the re-
serve, those officers, and men as
we'll, who, during the war, performed
their duties efficiently"
General Pershing asserts that our
success in the world war was not
due to the preparedness, but to for
tunate circumstances permitting us
to prepare after the declaration of
war, and that if we had been ade-
quately prepared our rights would
not have been violated or safety
threatened.
While we are opposed traditienally
to large standing army and have
fought our wars with citizen soldiers,
we always have failed to train our
citizen soldiers till war came on us.
We have made every citizen subject
to call as soldier, but never empha-
s.-eu his obligation to prepare HIM
self to serve. To provide for such
preparation is the object of the train
ing camps next summer.
Benefits in Training.
'In the preparation of our young
manhood for service in defense of
their country there are many per-
sona1 benefits that the course of
training would bring" General
Pershing said "It would develop
the physical vigor and manliness of
our youth and sharpen their men,
tality.
ut would teach self-discipline and
respect for constituted authority. As
recent experience has shown, it en-
courages initiative and gives young
men confidence in their abilities.
"Ihe thought and the act of pre-
paration for service increase their
patriotism. Association with men
from all walks of like strikingly en-
phasizes our democracy. The train
ing broadens the views and increases
the value of our youth as citizens.
1t is especially needed among our
alien population. a large percentage