Middletown transcript., 1922-03-04
GEN. PERSH|NG'S
PEACE ARMY PLAN
Lays New Economic Principle
Before Sub Committee
COVERS ENTIRE SERVICE
Does Not Deal With Specific Cues.
tlon Of Strength OF Regular
Forces-To Develop Ma.
tional Guard.

Washington. - A new economic
principle" to govern peace-time main
tenance OF all branches of the Army,
regulars, National Guard and Organ
lied Reserves, was laid by General
Pershing before the House sub-com-
mtttee on Army Appropriations. The
formal statement presented did not
deal with specific questions as to the
strength of the Regular Army during
the coming fiscal year, General PERISH
ing saying, however, that "in view Of
possible reduction" in Army
strength, consideration OF the "devel-
opment of national Army from an
economical standpoint" became espe-
cially important
The Generals statement concluded
the hearings the committee has been
holding on the subject and it is ex-
pected to be prepared to submit its
report in about a week.
After pointing out that the regular
Army was relatively small at pres
ent," and limited in numbers first by
the existing Army Organization Act,
and later by appropriations acts, Cen
eral Pershing said that the following
economic principle might be stated as
to the military organization the coun-
try should maintain:
I'm organizing the peace establish
ment, no unit should be maintained
in more expensive category IL it can
be safely and advantageously main
tanned in less expensive category
and mobilized therefrom In time to
meet the requirements of an emer-
gency."
The General said that the cost of
each group of the new army was diff
ferent, the regulars being more costly
than the National Guard, which in
turn cost more than the organized Re-
serves. In explanation of this, he
added that ut would, of course, be un.
derstood that Regular Army organiza-
tions must be maintained for duty in
foreign garrisons, upon the Mexican
border, for emergency service at
home, or expeditionary purposes
abroad, and for all other duties which
in the nature OF things could not be
performed by the citizen soldiers" >.
Application of this principle, Gen
sral Pershing said, would lay the
foundation for military organization
1T minimum cost"
"A second conclusion stated by the
commander of the Army was as fol-
ows:
"The primary mission of the regular
within the United States is
% develop the National Guard and the
organized reserves and to establish a
training system"
In this connection he said that,
while the main obstacle to applica-
ion of this principle was that mill
ary training in the United States is
entirely voluntary, increasing interest
vas being manifested in National
iuard and the reserve, as we'll as in
he military training camps.
Still another principle General
'ershing laid down was as follows:
I'm training the citizen army we
hould employ as many reserve off,
ers and non-commissioned officers as
'ossible as student instructors and |
taft personnel in our training camps |
nd other training establishments"
In relation to this, General Pershing
tated that full development of the
ystem he was broadly picturing can
ot be carried out by the Regular
Army alone, even at its present size,
or is 1t advisable that all instruction
70 given by regular personnel"
AS to the future functions Of the
regular Army, General Pershing laid
own this principle:
THAT portion of the Regular Army
ot required for general overhead pur-
oses shall be formed into two sep
rate forces-one composed of train
1g organizations, distributed in the
everal corps areas, and the other an
xpeditionary force composed Of Reg
lar Army units at effective strength,
eady for immediate service and sta
oned according to convenience for
ervice."