The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-31
OUR MILITARY POLICY
Gen. John J. Pershing, in the Scientif American.

ten. Jonn J. ferSnlnB, m the Oclentl1lc
 American.
 The history of American wars is one of gal lant deeds on the part of our officers and men, but it is also one of nasty and extemporized organization. This has always led to undue loss of life and heavy financial burdens.
 Our success in our early wars was due more to the weakness of our enemies and to the fact that they had military engagements else where than to wise preparations or superior training on the part of our own forces leaders. We have always relied upon our tra- ditional citizen army, but Congress heretofore has never provided for the organization of that citizen army in time of peace. In the Civil war the union saved in spite of our unpreparedness because the Confederacy also had to extemporize army before it could take the field effectively. Asa to the World war, substantial condition of preparedness known to all peoples might have prevented the war altogether In any event we would have been in position to bring it to an earlier termination.
 Never until recently have we sought a remedy for this defect in our military institu- tions. After each war we had neglected to take any steps ton ard making our military ex- perience available for the benefit If future generations. In the fall of 1919, however, a careful study of our entire military policy was begun by the military committees of Congress which resulted, for the first time in our his- tory in the adoption of a sound military policy, which is embodied in the army reorganization oct of June, 1920. The veterans of the World war exercised a powerful influence in the passage of this law. In it's essential features 41,o ,Jof,r of 4bo American Legion's first convention at Minne- apolis. It thus represents sie view of our great body of citizen soldiers fresh from act ual experience of war It is very important that this policy be developed if we are not to drift hopelessly back into the pre-war condi- tion of lethargy and inactivity.
 In order to judge intelligently we should understand the full significance and possibili- ties of this important act of Congress Most of our people have as yet hay idea of this subject. Those who merely read the law rs- member in general way the figures as to strength or numbers, but the important basic principles involved are not usually understood. The important thing to remember is that the new law simply provides that our traditional citizen army be organized in time of peace in- stead of being extemporized, in the past, after danger has actually come.
 The new law provides for a real national army consisting of the regular army, the na- tional guard and the organized reserves. t provides for the maintenance of our forces on an economical peace basis, readily con- vertible to war status. The machinery of mobilization is thoughtfully foreseen and not left to decision in the midst of crisis. Ar engagement is made for the continuous flow of trained officer personnel from the youth of the country into the national guard and the organized reserves.
 In direct contrast to the haphazard practices of the past, the new organization is built on the practical framework of the organization actually created in the World wra. Thus the traditions esprit and prestige of our great war units are to be perpetuated. They will become permanent institutions in the great citizen army that must always fight our battles. The prestige of the divisions that fought at St. Mhel and in the Meuse-Argonne will remain a potent influence, not to be dissipated and lost like that of the organizations that fought at Vera Cruz and Chapultepec, or at Gettys- burg and Chickamauga.