The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-08
GEN. PERSHING
ASKSARMY0 OF
10000 MEN
Chief Of Staff Sees National
Defense as Serious Ma
tiOnal Problem
COUNTRY UNPREPARED
Military Leader Praises Work
of Citizens Training
Camps
COUNTRY UNPREPARED

Washington, Dec. Sine condition
Of tho national defense system "prc
scnts Il serious problem which
should receive thoughtful consider
alton from every responsible citizen,
General Pershing declared today If
what will be his last annual report
rs Chief Of Staff Of the Army. By
the time the next report is due, the
former commander Of the American
Expcd t;onary Forces will have
reached the retirement age Of "a.
I'VE have made progress in tn.
organization Of the framework Of a
great citizen army" he said, but the
total number OF inuIl duals under
military supervision has decreased
by $4,000 during tho past three years.
This decline presents a serious prob.
lem W h CHI should receive the
thoughtful consideration Of every re-
sponsiblc citizen.
Real Progress.
"Arc VIC making real progress
toward the modest goal which We
nave set for ourselves, or are we
falling back into the unprcpared con-
aition which has heretofore existed
in this countryW
General Pcrshing devoted his re-.
port largely to the question Of 1.-The
creation in time of peace Of q corps
OF officers to instruct our men and to
lead them IN battle" Basing his
statements on the results Of the time
he devoted during the year to inspec-
ton Of suMmer training camps, he
reported that reserve officers had cx-
hibited readiness to make personal
sacrifices in order to fit themselves
for duty but that the War Depart
mcnt had been able to give them lit
tic assistance, "the truth being that
VIC have neither personnel or funds
sufficient for this purpose"
Temporary Disruption.
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:
Il wish to emphasize the fact that
this can be but temporary phase.
Our regular organizations must once
more receive the training necessary
to make them models Of efficiency
and to prepare them TO take the field
at any moment.
with a full appreciation of the
need Tor economy, urge that the
regular army be brought back to the
strength of 100000 enlisted men and
$4,000 officers; that it be suitably
housed and enabled to conduct an
nual maneuvers on a moderate
scale; that the National Guard be Civ
en- the support necessary to permit
MS progressive development toward
a strenth of 100000: that the skele-
ton organization Of the organized re-
serves be adequately maintained:
that the funds appropriated permit
reserve officers to receive an aver
age o. 10 days training in each three
Or four years; that the Reserve OF.
hcers' Training Corps units be fur
Their developed, and that provision
be made Tor gradual increase in
inc number accommodated annually
IN the citizen military training
The officers reserve corps nov con.
s'sts: General Pcrshing said, Of ap-
$1,000 officers of whom
$4,000 are war veterans. Annual re.
placements Of at least 1000 second
"eutenants must be provided to
maintain the corps, and this year |
only about half that number were
commissioned from the reserve Off
cers training corps and other sources.
During the last fiscal year there were
'oout $4,000 regulars and 100000 Ma.
Elonal Cuardsmcn in continental
.hlted States, or decrease Of 10000
rom the strength of these two Gle.
nents OF the army that existed in
Lack Of Funds,
we can not contemplate q fur.
her reduction" General Pershinr
declared.
Que to lack Of funds. the report
aid, enlisted personnel of the rceu.
ar army has had to be exploited
performing non-military duties in
repairing and maintaining camps of 7
Instruction" 1t added that housing
ad been poor for the troops but
nat fine morale and cheerful spir.
Is" was exhibited by both officer.
nd men even under these conditions.
present appropriations" said
'eneraI Pershlng, shave provided
my for the living expense of the
Military establishment and have not
cared for the upkeen
hereof. nor for its progressive de.
elopment. War .locks Of supplies
ave been utilized to the maximum
dvantage, and many articles are
wv exhausted. The temporary shell.
'r built during the war has in most
'stances become unduly extensive
maintain and Is unfit for occupan.
Y. Essential measures for the de.
'nse of the Panama Canal and our
'erseas possessions have been held
allegiance, although . number Of
ears would be required for their
'mpletion.'
Summing up the Spirit with which
parts Of tie new srmy-resuiar,. II
ational guardsmen and reserve Of.