Evening star., 1922-03-05
THE ARMY

Gen. Pershing. in his determination
that outstanding features of the or
ganization Of the Army Of the United
States, as provided in the national
defense act, will be clearly under
stood by officers of the Regular Army,
under the direction of Col. NJ. B. Stew
art, chief of the organization of mo-
bilization branch of the general staff.
Seven lectures were given to officers
in all departments and branches of
the service.
1t was the assumption of the lee
turer that officers in the study of the
national defense act chiefly confined
their attention to portions Of the act
relating to their particular work.
That, in general, a great deal Of
thought has not been given by indi-
viduals to the general organization
or the responsibilities of the War De-
partment in connection thereto.
Progress in the new organization, the
speaker declared. has been satisfac-
tory, with the exception of the Reg
reduction and uncertainty. is in a
state of flux. Organization of Ma
tional Guard divisions. it was stated,
is all that could be reasonably eX-
pected, and that the organized re-
serves Is in its initial state. While
the national defense act prescribes
the strength and organization of the
Regular Army and National Guard.
the strength of the organized reserves
is left to the discretion of the Presi-
dent. It's organiZa ton is prescribed
as in conformity to that of the Regu-
lar Army.
Describing the force fixed by the
War Department for the initial mo-
bilization in six field armies, compris.-
ing the Regular Army, National
Guard and organized reserves, the
lecturer briefly explained by maps
and charts the distribution Of vari-
I Gus divisions comprising the various
arms of the service. Allotments of
| Regular Army units to the National
Guard and, in a lesser degree, to the
organized reserves were made in ac-
cordance with the principle that
names, numbers and other designa-
tions of the subordinate units that
served in the world war be perpetu-
! ated as far as possible; that prop
erly balanced force be organized, pre-
Guiding the necessity FOR disruption
and reorganization in the event of
war, and that units already in exist
ence be included without change in
the new allotments.
Despite the great difficulty in find
ing the necessary number Of regular
officers experienced in organization
work, and the lack of funds neces-
sary for their travel or communication.
difficulties are being overcome. At
present there is a total Of 256 officers
now on duty, and the organization is
going forward with gratifying rapid
ity. More than 11,000 reserve officers
have been assigned to units. Unlike
the National Guard. which is under
a bureau, the organized reserves are
a federal force and must be provided
for and administered in exactly the
same manner as the Regular Army,
and in future each activity Of the War
Department must be prepared to take
over its proper share Of the RESPONSE
bility for the development Of this
component.
,, Briefly outlining the idea of organ
ized reserve units, 1T was pointed out
that it is not contemplated these
units will ever be filled to anything
like full strength, the idea being to
provide skeleton organization made
up of cadres. each with its compile
ment Of officers and non-commission-
more important specialists. These
cadres will be the molds into which
the draft would be poured in emer-
gency.
With the reduction which the Reg
ular Army has suffered and that in
prospect. it was declared that the mis-
sion likely to suffer most is the ex-
peditionary force; therefore, it was
pointed out, 1.-The only thing that can
be done is to develop the citfsen COM
ponents to degree of efhciency
where they can supplement the