The New York herald., 1922-03-15
PERSHING PROTESTS
AGAINST ARMY CUT
SAYS House Committee Pro
posal Imperils National
Defense System.
CRITICAL HOUR AT HAND
Frequent Slashes Since War
Have Damaged Service,
Asserts General.

WASHINGTON, March IA (Associated
Press) House Appropriation Commit
tee proposals to cut the regular army
to $4,000 enlisted men and 1900 Of
ficers aroused Gen. Pershing to-day to
renewed declaration that the whole
national defense project put through in
1920 would be imperilled II the slash rec
commended was made by Congress. Sue
cess Of that sound policy and system
Of national defense" he said in q state
ment to the Associated Press, depended
upon adequate provision for the military
establishment
The fibre OF the regular army has
been thoroughly tested" Gen. Pershing
added, by the strains placed upon 1t
not only in time of war, but in time OF
peace, when it has had to withstand the
onslaughts made upon ii in the name of
economy or pacifism.
1T appears now. due to the demands
for economy in our national expendi-
lures. another critical hour for the army
and the national defense is at hand"
Army Morale Affected.
Referring to 'the frequent slashes' in
army strength made by Congress since
the war. Gen. Pershing declared that a
'vacillating course" with respect to
army personnel discouraged competent
men from entering the service and low
cred morale and efficiency within the
army until it was difficult IL not inn
possibls to use to advantage the SER
vices of even the best of such person.
nel"
But whatever Congress may see fit
to grant" the Chief of Staff added, 1.-The
army will, as 1t always has. apply itself
to giving thu nation as much national
defense as 1T can. 1t will not quit. no
matter how badly crippled.
1T does ask. however, not through
selfish interest but in the interests of
the country, that its missions. its per-
sonnel and its means of accomplishing
the missions be given some permanency
and that it be permitted. through con-
tinuity of effort. to give the country a
fun return for its expenditures for ma
tional defense
Main Line of Defense.
Outlining the disposition now made of
the army under the authorization for
10000 men and $4,000 officers which
Secretary Weeks has asked for the COM
ing year. the Chief of Staff said that
the organized citizen soldiery is our
main line OF national defense"
In time of war" he added, behind
the thin outpost line or professional SOL
diers. the standing army. IT must mobil-
ize. complete its training and take the
field"
Plans for this organization and mo-
bilization and training had been made.
Gen. Pershing said. based not upon
our assumption of a saber rafting at
titude, as some would have us believe.
but upon having the means with which
to defend ourselves and meet force with
force IL necessary" 81
The overhead" organization OF the
Regular Army was not only for its own
administration. but for "the whole mill
tary establishment. regular. reserve and
potential" Cen Pershing said. Thorough
study OF the requirements had fixed the
necessary overhead personnel, he added,
at 1900 officers and 14,700 men to deal
with general direction, administration
and supply" for the entire establishment.
Supplementing this was the army
school system designed to provide 1900
officers for thigh command and staff
duties" which would be the number re-
quired, Gen. Pershing said. for the
first mobilization in any national
emergency" The personnel required
now for the schools, he added. was $3.50
officers and $500 men. Now assigned
to organized reservefunits, Gen. Pershing
said. were 1000 officers and 1900 men,
and the numbers must be increased as
the system developed to at least 1850
officers and $3.50 men.