The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-06-02

an army of approximately 10000
enlisted personnel and 1880 of
fcers will finally be determined
upon largely as a result Of the
consistent fight they have waged.
Continuing his reference to
Congressman Greene, Admiral
Sims added: ellis analysis of the
duty of Army officers in the pres
ent situation appears to me so rea-
sonable. so appreciative of the mil
itary officers concern for adequate
preparedness, and so sympatheti-
cally considerable of the effect
upon them Of the peoples appar-
ent forgetfulness, now that the
danger is passed and the war ser
vices of the Army and Navy are
no longer actually required. that
make no apology for quoting at
length Mr. Greene's cheering adj
vice, which is as follows:
Gas a matter of practice
do not like to anticipate Con-
pressional action by any attempts
to prophecy in public or by any
anticipatory criticism, or anything
of the kind. However, | am not
at all averse to expressing my
judgment as to what it might well
become the to do under the cir
cumstances, and inasmuch as | do
not need to assure you of my
I warm friendly concern in the
armys welfare | do not hesitate
to venture a few suggestions.
In the first place, when all is
said and done, this country may
count itself lucky that it has not
shared more deeply in the popu-
lar reaction that has all over the
world followed the Great War. We
are lucky indeed that the let
down of tense nerves and strained
minds and wea,ied flesh has not
brought troubles even more seri-
Gus than those we now experience.
Whatever may be the psy-
Geological aspects of the business,
whatever may be the true situa-
ton with regard to this, that, or
the other of it, we are quite GER
tain of one prominent fact and
there is no possible escape from
it, and that is that the Govern
ment as well as the people must
economic for several years to
come, and economic in something
more than a perfunctory fashion,
too. No matter how we turn or
with what argument, to face this
or that condition, or to question
the responsibility for this or that
condition, this one sober fact
stares us in the face at every
move.-we must economic.
CHOW, of course it is always
true that economy should be OBJ
served with good sense and dis
erection, and that there is such a
thing as overriding it and running
the very agency that one might
otherwise hope to save. 1t is true
that misdirected economy is often
destructive, or at least weakening,
Of agencies and institutions that
should be preserved in life and
activity.
"T can understand with very
sympathetic interest how the War
Department and the army literally
SILVER at the prospect of having
to undergo such radical and draS-
tic treatment at the hands of
Congressional economists that the
very heart and hope are out of
the plans for the national defense
and of the training of soldiers and
citizens for the national defense
that are the result of years of
study and the hardbought lessons
of experience on the battlefield. |
know it is discouraging.
"'Of course there is a jar to
the high-tensioned, high-purpos-
ed professional mind in all this.
There is a dread of ruthless as
sault upon ideals, practical ideals,
and much of that kind that is
something more than merely dis
couraging to professional ambiti-
ton.
"'There is also, and this is more
important, the deep sense of in
jury to a very vital governmental
policy, a policy that has been
learned through nearly a century
and a half of cruel and bitter
experience in wars. The army
naturally feels that it is a custo-
dian of. that experience and
should be held in confidence and
trust as a great instrument that is
to conserve that experience, pro-
fit by its teachings, and be respon-
sible to the people at any time for
the state of preparation for de-
Tense of the nation in any crisis.
"'But | would say to the Army
at this time that it can only be
held responsible for that degree
of preparation for national de-
Tense that the Congressional poi
icy and appropriations will permit.
"'After we have each in our
several spheres made the best ar
gument we can why economy
should not go beyond a certain
point, we must all prepare our
selves in whatever agency of the
Government we may be situated
for a period of enforced and
rather drastic economy, after all.
There is no use trying to reason
out of it or % give any excuse
WHY one should not be included in