South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-11
CITIZEN ARMY IS
PLANNED TO AID
DEFENSE OF U. 5.
Government Hopes to Enlist
Professional Men TO Help
Organize Volunteers.
BY HARRY l.. ROGERS
I. y. :. stan Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, July lO-lnter-
preting the national defense act as
n Gaming shat the major strength OF
the American defense system shall
lie with a great. well-trained body
or citizen officers and soldiers, the
war department = making a special
effort 10 interes- protest. nal men
and those whose training and eX-
perience particularly qualify them
for certain technical branches OF
the army.
1t Is the intention OF the depart
ment 10 commission as many as pos
slble OF these men in the officers
reserve corps. where 1t IS hoped 10
be able 10 give them sufciept
knowledge OF the rudiments of mill
tary training 10 enable them 10 nj
into the army organization. while
at the same time putting 20 the best
use OF the army particular know
/ ledge they possess by reason OF
their vacations in civil lie.
Officers Reserve Corps.
Among the professional men the
| department hopes 10 interest in tho
Officers Reserve Corps are engi-
neers. who naturally would be as
signed 10 the Corps Of Engineers.
/ lawyers. for the Judge Advocate
Generals Department doctors, for
! the Medical Corps; dentists. for the
/ Dental Corps; electrical engineers
and electricians. for the sigma
/ Corps. and various other specialists
for the staff Specialists Officers
Reserve Corps.
For example. it is pointed out
that various literary organizations
of the country include in their mem
bership leading authors. artists
I journalists. cartoonists and screer
writer's Many Of these men die
valuable propaganda and publicity
work for preparedness and Ameri
canism before and during tht
World war. Such men. Il is be
| lieved. would make efficient and
. useful officers Of the staff special
| lists section in case OF nationa
/ emergency, and while on inactive
status would voluntarily give tn,
army desirable publicity through
the press and screen.
American People sold"
The American people are sold,
the war department believes, on al
/ most everything except the army
and II they were taught more abou
the real aims and functions Of the
army they and their representative
in congress would be far mort
| friendly toward il.
Despite criticism IN the house o.
| representatives and elsewhere
I Secy. OF War Weeks has not recedet
| from his position that the public
needs information concerning the
| policy OF the war department and
that army officers and war depart
| ment officials are the proper per.
sons 10 furnish it. Neither has h'
receded from the stand that army
/ officers who wish to critic the ad-
ministraton policy should resign
from the army before making their
! criticisms.
Certainly we shall encourage
army officers TO give the people in
formation concerning the activities
OF the department" the secretary
said ct also Is certain that we
shall expect their public addresse:
or statements "a be OF a favorable
nature. That Is no more than the
| average business concern would ex.
| pect Of its employees"
IF this constitutes "muzzling oil
army officers" or a drift toward
Prussianisn," as has been charged
the secretary intimated. he is read!
TO take the responsibility.