Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-08
DAILY kENNEAEC JuLEAAl SATURDAY. DECEMBER o. 1929

| ton OF summer training camps, he
| reported that reserve officers had ex-
htbited readiness to make personal
sacrifices In order to At themselves
| Tor duty but that the War Depart
ment had been able to give them little
assistance, s"the truth being that we
have neither personnel nor funds
SUFFICIENT for this purpose"
There has been temporary dis
ruption" In the regular army as was
| to be expected, he continued, due to
| Reorganization under the national de-
Tense act. He added, however:
II wish to emphasize the fact that
this can be but temporary phase.
Our regular organizations mast once
mare receive the training necessary
| to make them models Of efficiency
| and to prepare them to take the field
at any moment.
with the full appreciation of the
need for economy, l urge that the
regular army be brought back to the
strength OF 10000 enlisted men and
$4,000 Officers; that 1t be suitably
housed and enabled to conduct an
t1ual manoeuvres on a moderate
scale; that the National Guard be
given the support necessary to per-
NIT its progressive development to-
ward strength Of 100000; that the
skeleton organization of the Organ
iced Reserves be adequately main
tanned; that the funds appropriated
permit reserve officers to receive an
average Of Is days training in each
three or four years; that the Reserve
Officers Training Corps units be fur
Their developed, and that provision be
made for a gradual increase in the
number Accommodated annually in the
citizen military training camps"
The officers reserve corps now con-
sists, Gen. Pershing said of approx
mately 1900 officers Of whom $4,000
are war veterans. Annual replace
ments of at least 1000 second lieu
tenants must be provided to main
tain the. corps. and this year only
about half that number were COM
missioned from the reserve officers
training corps and other sources.
During the last fiscal year there were
about $4,000 regulars and 100000
National Guardsmen in Continental
United States, or q decrease of 10000
from the strength of these two ele-
nients Of the army that existed in
1921.
We cannot contemplate a further
reduction" General Pershing de-
ciared.
Due to lack of funds, the report
said. enlisted personnel Of the regular
army "has had to be exploited in per-
forming non military duties in pre-
pairing and maintaining camps of in
struction.". 1t added. that housing
had been poor for the troops but that
fine morale and cheerful spirits" was
exhibited by both officers and men
| even under these conditions.
present appropriations" said
General Pershing, "have provided
only for the living expenses of the
| military establishment and have not
adequately cared for the upkeep
thereof. nor for it's progressive de-
velopment. War stocks of supplies
| have been utilized to the maximum
advantage, and many articles are now
exhausted. The temporary shelter
built during the war has in most in
stances become unduly expensive to
maintain and is unfit for occupancy,
Essential measures for the defense
OF the Panama Canal and our over
seas possessions have been held in
abeyance, although a number of
years would be required for their
completion"
Summing up the spirit with which
all parts Of the new army-regulars,
national guardsmen and reserve Of
ncers-were performing their part,
he said:
1T is gratifying to be able to re-
port that the National Defense Act
has met with constantly increasing
| interest among all classes of Ameri-
| cans. Not only do our citizens show
recognition Of the wisdom of the
present policy, but there appears to
be a growing desire to aid the War
Department in carrying out its pro-
gram.
IN the face of many discourage
ments. the personnel of all compon-
ents Of the army have zealously Civ
en- OF their services. The national
guard has achieved a most prais-
worthy standard Of efficiency in view
OF the limited time available for mil
ltary training: an excellent nucleus
Tor the organized reserves has been
quilt up in the short space of three
years; the units for the training of
prospective officers have developed in
a very satisfactory manner in our
! schools, colleges, summer camps: and
the regular establishment, cheerfully,
| indeed enthusiastically, has subor-
| dlnated many Of its own interests in
fulfilling its task of aiding in every
possible way the citizen components
| and auxiliaries Of the national army"
! Telling of comments made to him
by parents, doctors, educators and
employers all over the country on the
eHects OF summer camp training up-
on the young men trained, General
Pershing said he believed these
camps ARE really an American in
| stitution which will always endure
| In some form or other"
regard them" he added, "as the
greatest school in America for the
development Of good citizenship"
= sincerely hope that it is the will
! OF the American people that we
sllouio carry out conservative and
! balanced program for the national
defense in preparation for whatever
| emergency we may be destined to en-
counter