South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-12

NEW YORK, May 80 General
Pershins. writing OF our Plans for
the National Defense. In the cur
rent American Legion Weekly main
tains that re absolute minimum in
the standing army below which IL is
highly dangerous % reduce already
has been reached
Reviewing regrettable experiences
attributed 20 UMPIRE paredness of the
United States in past wars. the gen.
eral writes that as 90 the World
war. I ARMY believe that a substan-
tial condition Of preparedness OF our
land and naval forces backed by an.
adequate merchant marine would
have kept us out of the war. and
would have placed US in a position
20 have brought 20 90 an early termi-
nation"
Moreover" he continues. lit is
not too much 90 say that under these
conditions and with strong leader
ship we might have prevented the
World war altogether"
In his article. Cen Pershing visu-
allies the tripartite army which we
are struggling 90 create" under the
Reorganization act Of June 1920, a
welding Of regulars. trained national
guardsmen and a large citizen re-
serve into homogeneous whole.
He pleads with his comrades Of the
American Legion 10 support the
modest estimates Of the admnistra-
ton of men and money needed 20
perfect our weu-cOusiderei plans
for basic organization and for pre-
hWinary training that we may avoid
another Illuminating experience be-
fore the world"
The story of American wars is
one OF gallant deeds and great per-
sou1l courage on the part Of the in
d.yidual officer and soldier. but lack
OF preparation and training has al
ways led 90 undue loss Of life and
heavy financial burdens" the gen.
eraI writes
While We boast OF having been
victorious i'm our early foreign wars.
% was due more directly 20 the weak
ness of The enemy and his engage
ments elsew here than 20 the eXer-
else Of wise forethought in prepare
ZION or 70 superior strategical OF
tacdca! ability on tho part Of our
own forces or their leaders We are
prone 20 shut our eyes TO these plain
facts a condition reflected in con
gress. which has generally consid-
cred its duty well performed II after
the beginning OF war. 1t has author
lied the raising OF an army and pro
viGed for Its maintenance.
In the civil war. even a small
well-traired force would probably
have ended the war before the en-
tire country became involved. and
would have saved the loss OF thou
sands Of lives and untold treasure
on both sides"
At this point Gen. Pershing ex-
presses the belief that American
preparedness and strong leadership
m.eht have prevented the World
Wa
Never until our last experience
have we sought a remedy for the
avoidance o. past errors" he con-
t.nues. but after each war we have
some serenely back 90 the policy OF
saving a few dollars that should be
spent fer moderate preparation IN
order 70 meet tho billions spent be-
cause Of lack or preparation"
The new three-foId army. Gen.
Pershing explains. would be built on
the structural framework taken
bodily from the World war. so that
the traditions. esprit and prestige OF
the great combat units would be per-
peCuated
The combat component Of the
regular army IN the United States
is 30 small as 10 be almost negligible
in the event 81 hostiities with a first
class power" the general declares
Therefore, the national guard must.
under our adopted military policy.
Immediately take the field IN a great
emergency. This force must be
trained and organized. ready 20 de-
ploy upon the declaration OF war
as the bulwark behind which the
federal government VIII mobilize
troops and industries
The organized reserves. constitut-
ing the largest group IN the war