Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-30
.PERSH|NG ASSERTS
ARMY BILL BLOW
AT SAFETY OF u. s.
Introduces Unwarranted
Element of Danger i'm
Defense Plan.
REDUCTION OF FIGHTING
FORCES IS DISASTROUS
Chief of Staff Protests Against
Measure Adopted by
House.
OUTLYING INTERESTS MENACED
Administration Relic, on senate 10
save >rrnppinI Of wnr
OrEnni.ntion
REDUCTION OF FIGHTING
FORCES IS DISASTROUS
ouTLii>" INTERESTS MENAcED
administration Relies on senate TO
Save >rrnppinu Of Wnr
OrEnniEntton
lBy AssoeLated PFC. |

NASli1NGToN. March 2a.-Statinr
the army's case IN opposition ,o
further reductions in it's enlisted
and con: missionvd strength hnfora
Washington newspaper corresponJ.
cn's gathered at the National Press
''un tonight. Genera! PcrshinE
chief Of staff, ana Major.General
Hareord deputy chief Of stan Joint.
~ declared their belief that the liiI
passed today by the House limiting
the army to ii5.o0O men and II oon
officers would work serious injury
t" the n1tion's military policy and
undermine the best system for pre
Tar.dhcss the nation ever had
Further reductions would Il. dis
"sirous.' General Pershing declared
adding that such reduction would
introduce an unwarranted element
az danger in our plan OF national de-
fcnsc."
Travels In "Nicious Circle"
General Hartford asserted tha. tho
country travelled in vicious cir
'le' Of unpreparcdness and post
war economy. Both officers asserted
that 10000 mer and 1900 officers
we're absolutely essential to the ma :
TONS needs at this time.
"a careful consideration of the
work in hand. II the initial we'll
iald scheme Is no; to be seriously
curtailed and many essential activi-
ties abandoned" General pcrsh,nC
said. leads inevitably to tho con.
clusion that any further reduction
would he disastrous"
Regarding the proposal to reduce
IN" overseas garrison, he said ;ha,
the reduction cannot he mad. with
cut violating the soundcst princi-
pies Of security"
Peace Gnrrison. nt Minimum.
The size of the peace rarrisops
recommended for Hawaii and the
Panama Canal Zone" General Perish
'ng added. lis the minimum with
which their missions can be per-
formed. Any material decrease in
their size VIII make them Ineffective
and possibly invite attack The i'm
poriance of these possessions in the
plan OF national defense: the exDense
of maintaining them: the fact that
they must tc defended by the rccu-
lar army. and the difficulty Of sun.
plying adequate rc-enforcements in
an emergency. all demand that the
defending force he reasonably cffec-
tive and that the personnel be
definitely aliocated from Whatever
strength Congress authorizes for the
regular army.
Pnnnma's Protection Vital.
The loss OF the Panama Canal. the
speaker declared. would he a blow.
To the pride Of the American people
and. from a military point OF view.
would be greater blow than the
loss OF any other possession.
The general emphasized tho i'm.
portancc OF adequately protecting the
Hawaiian and the Philippine Islands.
adding that ''it must be remembered.
that the controlling factor in de.
terminine the strength OF our over
seas garrisons is not the immincncc
OF war. but tho military value OF
these outposts in the general scheme
tToutinu,d on Paco Col