Evening star., 1933-05-13
Wetting the Powder.

WcIIluS tnc 1OWueI.
Cromwell said to his soldiers: Trust
in God, but keep your powder dry"
His remark has gradually been extended
in application until it is accepted as
q warning to all rulers to maintain
secure the foundations Of national
defense.
Napoleon said: Morale is 10 the
physical Is four to one" Taken in
connection with Cromwell's advice. It
would seem that any action threaten
ing the morale of our defenders must
be multiplied II we are to arrive at an
accurate appreciation of the effect upon
the national security.
Following the World War our states.
men and soldiers united in redrafting
the national defense act SO as to insure
that unnecessary waste Of time, money
and lives should be avoided In any
future emergency. The General Staff
was organised to prepare the detailed
plans; the Regular Army and National
Guard were established at a strength
permitting not only initial defense, but
also effective supervision of training
for, and execution Of, mobilization; the
Organized Reserves supplied the molds
into which the man power Of the
Nation could be poured to form great
war army: the Reserve Offlcers Train
ing Corps was established In colleges
to produce continuing flow Of young
officers, thus avoiding the delay Of from
three to four months in training
camps; and the Citizens Military Train
ing Camps gave annually excellent
training in mobilization and supplied q
source Of emergency non-commissioned
officers.
The Army undertook its task with en-
thusiasm and has carried it out with
justifiable pride. The fact that the Of
flcers Of our uniformed services formed
the only class Of our citizens who were
denied material benefit during our
twelve years Of prosperity did not abate
their efforts, nor did the reduction OF
the Army to 43 per cent Of its legal
strength. The commissioned personnel
was left at 70 per cent Of its authorized
strength enough, though barely enough,
to carry on.
It is now proposed to reduce this
trained commissioned personnel by
three thousand or more. This means
the scrapping of the basic principles of
the national defense act. 1t does more,
for it strikes at the very heart of our
Armys morale.
The Army has never failed the Ma
ton or its leaders. 1t has been depend
able in eveV emergency, national or
international. It accepted, without
complaint. cuts in pay and allowances
reducing compensation to considerably
smaller figure than obtained twenty
five years ago. For our officers could
still feel pride in their positions
leaders appreciated the Importance Of
the Army's work. The remark that "the
Army cannot lose another oficer or
soldier" was accepted as the general
opinion.
And now, in q spirit of misguided
economy. we are attacking the very
foundation Of this pride in service
Those who are retained wN undoubt-
edly continue to be faithful, but with
reduced confidence In themselves and
their positions, for they will have seeil
5000 of their comrades, who have
worked shoulder to shoulder with them
"furloughed" on half pay-possibly hall
of a reduced pay and perhaps a pay In
inflated currency. And this at Q time
when even the most optimistic realize
that the future OF the world Is very
uncertain.
Loyalty is o dual obligation. The
senior owes to the subordinate the same
degree Of loyalty he receives. Is the
Nation being loyal to its Army? And
is it being loyal to these who, In suf-
fering, built our country or to those
who will inherit It?
Are we keeping our powder dry?