Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-27
a Military Policy

I \ these days of disarmament conferences
i enforced government economy. recon
struction and returning normnlcy nothing is
more natural than that extremists should
appear agitators agitate aud bitter-cnders
20 the limit. 1t might have been taken for
granted that when this country proposed
limitation of armaments there would be
folks who would insist upon total disarna-
ment and would not be satisfied until all
implements Of war were melted into plow-
shares. all battle flags furlcd and ali means
q. national secSity and defense thrown into
the discard
Some of these misguided people are now
clamor.ng with great earnestness for the
uisSoiution OF the American army They
want IL abolished outright Others. less
passionate In their views, want the army
'H' GOWN 10 corporals guard and that
guard converted into II sort of national no.
lice force. They want all appropriatiops
Tor the maintenance OF the military ostob-
hShment slashed to the bone and taxation
reduced accordingly
'heie were an agreement on the mart
Oh All the nations OF the earth TO wine
OUT standing armies, blow up their forti-
n'"''"iS' turn their military reservations
'nto pasture lands and to sink their navies
America might be justified in dissoIviny
"n agreement is reached and carried into
effect the United States would bo puil,, IF
rahkest folly in placing itself I'm q defense
less state on land or sea
AT IL is. this country has demobilized tic
l"ho forces TO the lowest possible poin, re-
motei! consistent with national safety
Whhout waiting TO observe what other ma
LUIS would do America discharged from
inc hliitary service more than 1000 600
men after the armistice was signed In
ti'he IL cut the regular army down ia lass
IMAM 100000 men and at the direct con,.
mana or Congress. the President has now
'cuuccd II to approximately 10000 men
no other victorious beligcrent i'm ,bo
world war has proceeded as far or as swiftly
III the process OF rehabilitation. Great
80 ''"''' ana itaiy nave done much, especially
LAY peibium has demublizcd also but
'"''oc sun maintains an enormous field
force, perhaps the most formidabl, army
IN the world today Russia is said ia have
between 100000 and $50 900 soldiers undor
arms. and Poland has somctbin, 1i,,o Eno
wv men in uniform. Greece is sill, on
s'.sed III war with Turkey Jnpun has
armed forces in China and Sibcri, osido
from the Barrisons at home
EA"c'IS what should he the eventual nooce
strength OF the American army wo ora M,
q"iiihed 10 say. Every military AUTHORITY
INSISTS 'hat 10000 is tho irreducibIo min
,''"'h' IL even Il skeleton organization is IN
" maintained and if the outlying posses
''ons vi the united States are 10 be cvon
p'iiccu' ferhaps they are right Certainly
ms is not bnrdensomo force
PRESIDENT Harding has publicly sci him
seil against any further drastic reduct;on
Ill me size OF the regular army. H. doc.
not believe that tho time has como viz,
'hc United States dares diminish its army
- ponce footing. In that view Tho pr.ei-
"rht VIII he supported by most thi,lins
people Congress should go slowly in its
CONSIDERATION OF new military policy