The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-14
Appeals to Fellow Vets
With Article Printed
in Legion Weekly
MINIMUM IS REACHED
Tells Buddies the War Could
Have Been Prevented by
Preparedness


,bat tho absolute minimum In the
tsrdine army below which is Is
bighlv dangerous TO reduce already
has been reached.
Reyiewins regrettable experiences
attributed to unpreparedness of the
T'nited states In past wars, the gen
,ral writes that "as TO the World
,sr. | firmly believe that n substan-
tlai condition OF Preparedness of our
and and naval forces, backed by an
sdeouate merchant marine, would
baye kept us out of the war, and
would have placed us in position
10 have brought It to an early term
nation
Moreover" he continues, "it IL
rot too mvch TO say that under
these conditions and with strong
leadership, we might have prevented
The World war altogether"
In his article. General Pershing
visualizes the tripartite army which
I'VE are struggling to create" under
the reorganization act OF June,
1920. a welding of regulars, trained
national guardsmen and a large
citizen reserve into n homogeneous
whole He pleads with his comrades
OF the American Legion TO Sup
mort the modest estimates of the
administration of men and money
needed TO perfect our well.consid-
cred plans for basic organization
and for preliminary training that we
may avoid another humiliating ex-
Z perlence before the world"
"The story OF American wars Is
one Of gallant deeds and great per-
sonal courage on the part OF the in
dyidual officer and soldier, but lack
u preparation and training has al
ways led TO undue loss OF life and
heavy financial burdens" the gen
era writes.
"While we boast OF having been
victorious in our early foreign wars,
It was due more directly to the
weakness OF the enemy and his en-
gagemeuts elsewhere than to the
exercise OF wise forethought in prep
aration or TO superior stragetical
or tactical ability on the part OF our
own forces or their leaders. We are
prone TO shut our eyes to these plain
facts, a condition reflected In con-
gress. which has generally consid-
cred its duty well performed II, after
the beginning OF war, It has author
tied the raising of an army and pro-
yided for rs maintenance.
"In the Civil war. even small
welltrained force would probably
have ended the war before the entire
country became involved, and would
have saved the loss of thousands of
lives and untold treasure on both
sides"
At this point General Pershing ex-
presses the belief that American
preparedness and strong leadership
might have prevented the World
war.
Never until our last experience
have we sought remedy for the
avoidance of past errors he con-
tlnues, but after each war we have
gone serenely back to the policy of
saving a few dollars that should he
spent for moderate preparation in
order TO meet the billions spent be-
cause Of lack OF preparation"
The new three-fold army, General
Pershing explains. would be bull. on
the structural framework taken bod
lily from the World war, 30 that the
traditions. esprit and prestige OF
the great combat units would be per-
petuated
The component Of the regular
army OF the United States is so small
as TO be almost negligible in the
event of hostilities with n first-class
power" the general declares. There
fore, the national guard must, un-
der our adopted military policy, i'm
mediately take the field in a great
emergency. This force must be
trained and organized. ready to de-
ploy upon the declaration OF war,
as the bulwark behind which the
FEDERAL government will mobilize
troops and industries,
The organized reserves, constitut-
ing the largest group In the war
armies would not be maintained at
strength In time OF peace, save for a
rev trained officers and enlisted
specialists. These, assigned to skel-
eton examinations chiefly in their
own home towns, would keep in
Wuch with the army by correspond
ehce courses and summer camps,
VWhlle officers would be trained in
camps.
Any arrangement that contem-
plates our taking the offensive Inn
meu'ately upon the outbreak of a
e.eat war is impracticable because
t the Immense expense involved in
ulne OF peace and is impossible be-
eause II would not be in keeping
WIN our democratic ideals" Gem
udI Pershing says. The existence
such an armed force would be
plii'arism OF pronounced and OBJ
Neuonable type. But our initial role
On ahd Is defensive, and It IL the ma
uunal guard with our small regular
ST',my which is charged with the full
','Hhent of this mission. Later. as
ue otiensive becomes necessary, II Is
re national guard and the larger
Lsanl2ed reserves. supplemented by
regulars, which must carry a war
triumphant conclusion"
summing up, General Pershing
say' Contrast the national guard
t tnu the regular army. holding the
SattIe line while the greater army OF
i.serVes is being formed, with our
,S"ofnlnious plight during the first
yr OF the late war, when we were
T'eeu 10 depend upon the armies Of
lance and England to defend our
d,t,tsrests until the American expe-
,nuonary forces could be brought
INTO the field.
as this IL written, congress Is
,iasased in the consideration OF dras-
~ Ieductions in our professional
,s'sonnel, and In the sums estimated
necessary for the training and
tssHpment OF the citizen forces. No
,ninElng man can be justified In de-
handing a large professional army.
~, there Is an absolute minimum,
n Nv which 1t Is highly dangerous
resoLce ana that we have already
tessIosa,, me obligation OF the pro-