The New York herald., 1922-05-07
AMERICAN MILITARY
FORCES KNIT ASUNIT
Association Of Army,
Formed in 1921, Acts as
Welding Agency.
|FOR CITIZEN DEFENSE
Lieut. Col. Kenyon A. Joyce
of General Staff Describes
Working.
GROWTH IN FAR WEST
Russo-German Treaty Cited as
Evidence of Existing Risk
of Danger.
v LIEUT.. COL. KENYON

How to check our country in its
vicious cycle in matters Of national
defense is well worthy of the best
thought of every citizen. The citizen
n every walk of our national life
bears the burden; in consequence. he
should count the cost.
Our national trait Of believing in
ime of peace that there never will be
war is a costly one. Let us be sane
Ind realize that as long as human
beings strive nations will strive. and
hat at some time ambition born OF
human desires will lead to a lane from
which there will be no turning; where
o so ahead morally. spiritually or
commercially means the last resort in
he settlement of all disputes-a CLASH
bt arms.
We have been unprepared at the out
break of every war in our national his
DRY. Such unpreparedness has entailed
enormous expense, amounting in the
World war to approximately $4,000. .000.-
poo. AS Gen. Harbord has SO aptly put
t. after a war thcf size of our debt
ncurred through unpreparedness, brings
demand for economy and we continue
bnprepared. Thus unpreparedness brings
he deb. and the debt continues unpre-
baredness." Every corporation ano
livery Individual with property realizes
he necessity of adequate insurance.
RussO-German Treaty.
How is our country less worthy OF
protection than the individual? Ade-
huate preparedness is no more than ma
ional insurance, and let us not be de-
Feived as to the necessity for insurance
Today. The recent Rnsso-German
treaty points to a fire risk that In al
prudence cannot be overlooked; ano
bther coalitions may follow.
The Congress in it's national defense
ct of June 4. 1920. most wisely promul'
kated military policy for our country
which contemplates one army OF the
United States, composed of the Regular
krmy, the National Guard aud the or.
sanized reserves. In reality this ac
constitutes the first real policy for ma.
ional defense that our country has
.nown in its 146 years of existence.
Relative to this policy, President
Harding, who is charged with the re-
ponsibility of national defense as wei
s the economical management of the
Government, said:
"Our present national defense Law
Establishes an economical and demo
ratio military policy thoroughly con.
istent with our national traditions. II
provides for a small regular army
o be augmented by great citizen forces
h the event of national emergency. This
B our traditional military policy. But
whereas, in the past these larger wal
orces have been extemporiZed after the
recurrence of an emergency, the new
hw wisely provides that the frame
york of their organization shall be
Established and developed in time of
eace, in so far as this Is practicable
through the voluntary service of our
|atriotc young men,
should Encourage Development.
."The army Of the United States, as
efined in the new law, comprises the
Regular Army, the National Guarc
nd the organized reserves. Every pa
riotic citizen should encourage the de-
elopment of these forces, each within
s proper sphere"
An outstanding feature of the national
efense act Is that 1t makes possible
ne continuance and perpetuation of the
essons learned during the war. Another
eature of prime Importance is that 1t
rovides for the utilization of the SER
ices of officers and men Of the National
uard and the organized reserves. who
ere developed I'm war time training and
combat, in brigades, divisions and
orps which bear the designations and
raditions of the world war. These are
ne live, vital features In the law whicn
pcll successful preparation for the fu-
ire, provided opportunity is given for
he maintenance of organization and
spirit thus made possible
At present we are In trcnsition
eriod--we have just completed her
ilean effort in the world war. and the
esire for peace in the hearts of the
eople has lulled many to the thought
nat there will be no more combat. We
re i'm the doldrums, as II were. or
his period Secretary Weeks has said
"The present period, marking the
ansition of the army from a war to
peace basis, is one OF the most Inn
ortant I'm our history. This Importance
rises from the fact that n duty Is inn
oscd in insuring that the Lessons of
,e great war are not lost but per-
ntuated in enduring organizations.
'For the first time the American pco-
e have expressed In the forai OF n
cfinite diCtum determination 10 con-
itute a permanent military policy COM
ensurate with their great potential re-
uirements for national defense. and
et thoroughly consistent with their ma
onai traditions"
Great ProbIem Now.
At this time, when the call for peace
he call for retrenchment and the call
pr economy are so strong, the great
roblem is how best TO utilize the re-
purces at our command in a way that
ill meet the necessities cf protection
nd yet will suit the strained porse OF
ie country.
The answer appears TO be the utiliza.
on OF the many thousands OF officers
the National Guard and the organ.
.ed reserves. and the hundreds oi
iousands of enlisted men who went
trough strenuous courses of training
nd who have had actual experience In
ie field and i'm war. 1t Is no more
han wisdom and good business policy
pr the country to avail itself of this
rye number of officers and men. who,
ith their training and experience, are
enormous national asset.
These citizen soldiers maintain them.
eIves IN civil pursuits and volunteer
1elr services to the Government. By
eeplng them abreast or the military
rofession with periodic training by the