Evening star., 1922-11-28
PERSH|NG SOUNDS
NEW WAR Warming
U. S. Must Face Facts, He
Says, in Plea for Military
Training.
BY the Associated Press.

A's the -tSsUIdteu fresS.
MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi. November
2s.-An appeal to the nation to look
cold. hard facts in the face and not
forget our obligations in the blind
hope that we may not again engage
in armed conflict" marked an address
delivered here today by Gen. Pershing
under the auspices Of the American
Defense Society.
AT present we do not see definite
Indications. but none of US can tell
whether we shall have war in FIVE,
ten or twenty years." Gen. Pershing
said. If We knew now to a certain
ty that armed conflict would come in
mediate demand for preparations Yet
that is the approximate interval that
We have had in the past between ma
jor wars. There is no reason to think
that the immediate future will bring
about a cessation of war even though
1t was said that we entered the world
war to bring about the end of war"
Value of Training.
Gen. Pershing devoted most of his
address to discussing the value of
citizenship. making reference in this
connection to the findings OF the re-
cent educational conference in Wash
ington. The conclusions of that con-
ference, he said. were that the train
ing given in the reserve elements of
the Army and at civilian training
camps Constitute an effective ma
chinery through which much can be
done not only to benefit the individ-
ual from the standpoint OF his ply
sique and self-discipline. but from the
standpoint of his relations to the
government that protects him and
which he is under obligations to de-
fend."
The chief Of staff stressed again
draft statistics that show SO per cent
of the young men called out during
the war to have been physically sub
normal, largely due to defects cura-
BILE by proper training; and that one
fourth of the persons examined were
unable to read and write our COM
mon language. and that more than 10
per cent cannot even successfully
speak English"
Losing National Self-Respect.
1HdI IlSduS, HcA. Icioh Coh-
tinued. that some 100000 of the
American people do not know our
tongue We cannot avoid
the conclusion that we are losing our
balance and our own self-respect un-
less we attack the problem vigor-
ously.
II do not suggest military train
ing as a cure for all civic ailments.
but 1 firmly believe that it inculcates
ideals of honor and duty in our
young men that must constitute a
most valuable national asset"
Gen. Pershing said that If the Army
benefits of the training offered. it
will only be through the cooperation
and support of the people" During
the present year. he said. expendi-
lures on all phases Of the military
establishment ran "a little more than
50 per capita" which compared
favorably with prewar expenditures.
all things considered. 1t was to be
hoped. the general said. that 1t would
soon be practicable to furnish mill
tary training to greater numbers of
men every year. adding:
THE sound mentality. built upon
the foundation of a clean, strong
physique. is in itself a means Of de-
fense: but even with this advantage
1t Is idle to build up a defense system
and maintain it at ever so luxurious
a cost unless we inculcate loyalty in
the hearts of the people and unity
their aims and purposes"