Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-08
Pershing Pleads
For Larger Army

Washington, Dec. S.-The American
people strongly favor a sound pro-
gram of national defense, John J.
Pershing, general Of the armies, de-
clared today in his first annual report
as chief Of staff Of the army.
This conclusion" Pershing'S re-
port stated, lis justified by the fact
that Congress has finally worked out
q policy embodied in the National
Defense Act of 1920 Further evil
dence is found in the interest spring
ing up all over the country in the de-
velopment of this plan.
From all walks of life men are
proffering their services. We have
had to refuse many OF our citizens
the training they desired in prepare
ton for such service to their country
rs available funds would not permit
accommodating ali. The general re-
spouse is very encouraging and | am
indeed proud 70 be a party to such an
undertaking"
Pershing hurled vigorous criticism
at the reduction of the Army to 1885,,
OG0 enlisted men and 10000 officers,
and pointing out that the formulation
of the national defense act involved
strength for the Regular Army OF
100000 enlisted men and 10000 Off
GERS, he declared:
Il repeat that this last force Of
125,000 men and 10000 officers is not
enough 1t is my conviction that our
regular force is cut zoo much for safe
" and that q strength of ut least $780,
eco enlisted men and $4,000 officers
should be permanently fixed as the
minimum
after the great war and the at
tepdant reconstruction PerShlng
stated. "our military establishment
was quite naturally in q confused and
disorganiZed state. Like other Amer
lean institutions we were forced to
pass through the general process OF
being shaken down and readjusted.
I'VE were faced with the necessity
Of accomplishing a considerable re-
duction by October I, 1921. We had
barely completed The reimbursement
when there appeared prospects of go
ing even further. So now at the close
of the wear we are again making
nlans to meet another reduction of
the regular army--this time to a
point which consider below the mini
mum required for the effective per-
Torrance of our various missions.
I'm many criticisms of the conduct
Of past wars" said Pershing, there
have been few Of any significance di-
rocted against the fighting prowess
of the regular units. Indeed 1t Is
RECOGNIZED that those organizations,
though of a very limited number, were
the equal of any similar force in the
world.
"Fowever. such small forces could
,t best be Sacrifcial offerings if
thrown alone into modern war. Our
national not our professional nre-
fo rdefense must be the
goal The primary consider
alton in the problems Of the regular
army is that the citizens of America
shall be assisted in their preparation
to defend themselves in time OF emer-
gency."
before the war" declared Perish I
;ro IN speaking of the organized re- /
serves of citizens, there was a more
or less popular miScOnception that our !
could rush to arms IN a (
single day. But we have finally recog- (
nized the need for organization ana /
training of the young civilians OF our
country. We now have the reudl-
nents of an organization for the pur-
nose of providing that training. ana .
without regard to the question OF their
possible future service as soldiers, the
very valuable features of even q brlef .
,ourse of military training in teach
mo discipline and obligation and IN
developing the physique Of young men
makes it quite important that the ad-
vantages be extended to as many OF
our young men as possible.
above all our citizens have APP .
the project for development
nj an ultimate state of real prepaid
ness. In any final test of arms 1t Will
ne the function of the organized re-
serves or else our unframed contin-
gents of young men 20 make mani
fest the fighting energy and the un-
.onQuerable spirit which the Ameri-
.an people possess. $500 Il
Pershing said that a mobilization
n, the American army based on its
present plan of the regular army. the /
national guard and the organized re- +
serves would be of a character that Il
night well dismay the most stubborn +, ,
adversary and hence would in advance
,e of great weight in the maintenance