New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-24
Pershing Offers
Plan to Perfect
Coast Defense
Militia To BE Organized 10
Provide Prompt Proicc-
ton for Favorable Land
ing Places and Frontiers
system Leaves Fleet Free
Training AREAS To 3 10.
Gated win View e. Siarc
IN Possibl" H1s;Ii'ie5

WASHINGTON. Jglr -. -S'ers n
establish o. rl'.onri rori.i,l 'a icld
ncrf" for e. aru- as O jeF-l ?m-rt -
the r1ticlal military policy sre fore.
cast IN a memorandum recently snh-
mi.i.d b. Ccarra' ptfshing 10 srers-
taiy Weeks ana made public to- ay 20
the War DoTarineal
Details o. .1e4 p'sns a' already have
been prepared ..y General Ptrrliag 90
not disclo-el Tho c,aer, rrc O.
the rrojcci. however, cent ltsaa
sirnmcn, ~ National Gu. 'tit o..
10 specific defensive -r i.nr on
coasts AMI borders a. wti.' ,fcv would
tc rushed 'n fic event ~ war
Under this nlar." General pcr'hirc
said. "thc u.iIarr org tn.AfIorf re-
quired 90 secure critical ilni.rg pifc 81
upon our coasts and iavoraal lines
advance nnon 90. lard fror..ers can
be definitely iormof a1i nrenfrsi.
with such militia, orgsriz1tior asslrcl,
the additional military uni'r ic0 rired
for tho full prosecution ~ f. frriIu'
war can b. modified a. rntc and
brought 70 full STRENGTH without dis
turbance Or interruption.
Plan a Bar 10 Invasion
with our territory thus protected
against landing in force % the start
and with he machinery for IA ther
military expansion fully organized. our
feet will be free 70 deal with m. hos
tile naval forces without concern -s 10
possible invasion
"The plans ere practicable" General
pcrshiug said. ~ We can cont upon
a reasonable development ~ the eco
nomical military system sanctioned ly
the national defense act"
with eighteen divisions and appr -
pirate auxiliaries of the Nhfiona'
Guard. supplemented by the regllrr
army prepared for necessary csTaa-
sion. and with certain special uo.ti
Termed In the organized rosrrve-' he
continued. I'VE shall be able o. cover
our coasts and land frontiers against
serious invasion 40 The start
Such a military organization caufos
no menace 10 any other nation. hu;
assures the imprcgnabifty o. con-
tinental United States In ine event o.
attack By any possible combination
General Pershing pointed out that
where a National Guard division might
be assigned ~ given beach sector Tor
defense IL would be- ordered when mob
ilized at peace strength 20 this region.
taking up training area near enough
90 the actual beach position % be-
Immediately available. Ire division
first task would be % prepare ia beach
sector for defense For thar purpose
IL is planned 20 provide the division as
part Of is regular training with all
the data and instruction necessary 10
enable II % carry ont that mission on
ts arrival IN the sector
Permits Subsequent Offensive
THE character Of our military re-
sources az vel as our attitude toward
other nations imposes upon ~ on
initial strategic defense General
Pershing said. but this does not ir-
volve renouneing % subsequcrt often
sive.
Had the United States IN tho spring
Ct 1917 possessed twenty-five or thirty
divisions completely organized and
equipped, but only trained sufficiently
20 meet the requirements Of the ma
tional position Boz readiness above ont
lined. each NJ these divisions would
nave been advanced many months as
compared with the entirely new divi-
sions 10 was necessary 20 create"
The memorandum points out that the
defensive machinery planned is de-
pendent upon "the large number Of
war trained officers available" and also
upon the more adequate sources Of
military equipment and material as
well as upon the specific sanction given
in the national defense act. General
Pcrshing laid stress, However, on the
assertion that the System Of training
Young mon" ultimately 20 replace che
present war-trained officers, perpetual
ing the supply OF necessary officer 9sg-
sonnet. was a vital factor IN the whole
project.