Evening star., 1922-03-19
Trimming Sum Cut to Bone,

Alarmed by the action of the ap-
preparation committee in cutting the
amount asked for the training Of the
organized reserves for the next fiscal
year from more than four million
collars to a quarter of million dol
lars. reserve officers are wondering
whether or not their organization.
created by Congress for a national
emergency. is to be treated merely
as an army on paper. Unlike the
Regular Army or National Guard. the
reserve organization is Intended. from
Il financial standpoint as federal
asset of defense, and not large mill
itary liability. Its broad functions
are 50 clearly defined in the national
defense act that only radical or
other undesirable citizen could take
Among its $1,000 commissioned per-
sonnel, who are on non-pay status,
the vast majority saw service in the
world war. These officers have no
national association. such as the ma
val reservists or National Guard. SO
are unable as a body to enter con-
gressional protest against being de-
prived of moderate sum for volun-
tary training during summer period
of two weeks a year. as outlined in
chapters of reserve organizations,
however, are springing up even in
out-of-the-way places, which may
lead to a master body, with officers
"nO Will 10 oSlCSdtSu CdSh y Soh ~
a national convention, in order to
thrash out the attitude and require
ments Of their organization. Whether
or not the action of the appropr1a-
fions committee in making SO mate
rial Il cut in the appropriation for
the organized reserves will be upheld
in the House and Senate remains to
be seen.
1t is known that American Legion
officials-of whom. it is said, all are
raSerye officerS-and the new National
Association of Army of United States
are heartily in favor of building up
a citizen army solely for the national
defense, and will support any rea-
souable request asked of Congress for
training purposes.
Should the present reserve organi-
zation revert to a paper army, ohi-
rcrs point out that it would soon
.ose the interest of the very men for
whom it was intended, namely, those
whose experiences in the world war
are todday the nations best policy
If national insurance. The civil war.
iustration of the country's failure to
make provision for passing on the
valuable experiences of that great
war to the people of the next genera
ton. Had the country In 1917 been
provided with peace-time reserve
Organization, handed down from civil
war experiences. it would most GER
tainly have been of untold help In
getting ourselves ready at the Deg1n-
ming of the world war. Officers who
have studied this situation say that.
que to the training and experiences
Of the civil war, our country would
have been able to adequately defend
itself against any attack. We had
leaders and staff officers thoroughly
familiar with the latest word in
strategy and tactics. Our supply
officers were equal to any emergency.
We had a general staff in fact, though
not in name. For few years our
armies could still have been recalled
for defense A little later, however.
the efficient war organization had
melted away. Commanders returned
to civic life. with no way OF passing
on to others the invaluable lessons
they had learned.
Our new policy. If carried out and
interest continued in the second and
third line of national defense-the
guard and reserves-will make I'm.
possible that costly experience OF
lives and money which. through lack
of preparedness, we expended during
the world war. From an economical
standpoint. it is claimed. the country
can be saved the expense of large
standing army: that the civilian COM
ponent policy is thoroughly econom-
zeal and in accord with the ideals OF
democracy and the traditions OF the
American people.