Evening star., 1933-06-21

Credit is given to the United States
Army for the efficiency with which 1t
has organized the Civilian Conservation
Corps and engaged in the forestry
project that provides work for large
numbers Of persons who were unem-
ployed. The enterprise Is unprece-
dented, according to comments, and IN
wolves tremendous responsibility, which,
it Is declared, has been undertaken as
just part Of the days work by the
military establishment.
I'm time of peace" says the Cincn-
natl Times-Star, "the American Army
is lust a big emergency relief organiza-
ton, providing guards, airplanes, trucks,
tentage, cots and supplies for districts
visited by storm, flood, earthquake, hres:
It does practical service on broad
scale to humanitarian causes. Now 1t
is at work on something new and yet
quite in line with its usual peace-tlme
tasks. At its camps it is conditioning
250. 900 young men for the Presidents S
Civilian Conservation Corps, which Is
to work in the Nations public forests.
Not all of these young men nave yet
presented themselves, for the law Ior-
bids bringing any pressure upon them,
but so far as they have appeared, tne
Army has fed, clothed and equipped
them, and Regular officers and prlvates
have discharged with skill and speed
the task of conditioning them. Nobody
else in the country could nave &C
complished or even tackled the Jon.
With the American Army 1t Is just
another days work"
"The plan to enlist forestry recruits
for the Conservation Corps Is spien-
did thing" comments the Pasadena
Star-News. cit not only will provide
a living and a small wage for those VINO
90 out in the woods to work, but II
will be q very commendable morallAng
influence. Army discipline Will De
maintained in the camps and the men
will be required to keep themselves
physically and morally clean. Tne Ell
feet would be to deter many men-par-
ticularly Young men-from yielding to
temptation and start upon careers OF
vice and crime. This is one OF the most
wholesome unemployment projects YET
devised by the National Government.
The effect of the formation OF the
Conservation Corps on the Army per
sonnel Is discussed by several news
papers. The Philadelphia Public Ledger,
taking into account the plans for both
forestry and military training camps,
voices the opinion: After all the tnreats
against the military establishment, II Is
satisfying to hear Secretary Dern an
nounce that the military training camps
will be held this Summer with Only
slight changes from former years. Inc
reserve officers will be in camp only
four weeks instead of the usual six, ana
the contingents at the citizens camps
will be limited to those who have mao
the basic course. These changes are
minor. They will mean slight saving
in the War Department budget, but tney
will maintain intact the training pro-
gram. How important that Is has peen
demonstrated by the strain put on the
service by the Civilian ConserVation
Corps. To handle the forest recrudcS, acc
1t has been necessary to detail 4'vOo oo
Regular Army officers and call on I,4Uo
Reserve officers as well. with suc.
measures necessary to give the meae
rudiments of discipline and organlIa
tion to an army Of 250,000 volunteers,
how much greater would be the strain
If a combat army were necessarily caheu
into being on short notice? by Az
means. the training camps wmcn oe
yelop officer material should pe con-
tinIled. and Secretary Dern ana the ao-
acted wisely In decreems
no measurable cuts in this program
"Welcome news" Is found by tne nan
sas CITY Star in the announcemens tisas
Army personnel will be maintained, auo
that paper continues: when the Clvii-
ian Conservation Corps was establisneo,
it was decided to call out sumciens
humber of Reserve officers for active |
duty on reforestation and other works
At the same time it was contemplated
to furlough the Regular officers. No
economy could be accomplished by pay
ing Reserve officers for active duty when
Regular ARMY AfficerS could be used 1or