Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-13
.DERN SAYS OFFICER
/. LOSS HURTS ARMY
Detail of 5000 Men to For.
est Camp Shows Need for
Full Staff, He Holds.
Gripping Of the regular Army by de-

Gripping Of the regular Army by de-
failing approximately 5000 officers for
duty at reforestation camps with the
Civilian Conservation Corps, in the
opinion of Secretary Of War Dern, has
demonstrated conclusively the danger
to the national defense structure in any
material decrease in officer personnel.
While Dern voiced his own personal
pride in the successful job the Army
has accomplished on this unique
peace-time assignment in frequent
speeches he made on his recent Western
trip, he nevertheless is concerned over
the disruption of Army organization
that has resulted. 1t has been occupy
ing much Of his attention since his re-
turn to Washington last week.
Our regular Army garrisons are
scattered over the United States" he
said THE withdrawal Of so many Off
GERS and non-commissioned officers
from these posts has badly disrupted
their efficiency as organizations. With
only an of11cer or two per battalion and
with many key non-commissioned OIL
GERS gone, training is at standstill and
their effectiveness if called on for an
emergency. foreign or domestic, Is
greatly reduced"
General staff officers in Washington
pointed to the crisis in Cuba, which
threatened for a while. to force Ameri-
can armed occupation, as problem of
grave concern to the Army in its pres
ent situation With some 5000 officers
detailed to distant forest camps and
regiments and battalions having only
skeletoniZed stats, sudden demand for
American troops would have resulted
in considerable embarrassment to the
Army, at least. 1t probably would have
resulted, an officer explained, in the
Marines adding another notch to
their gun.
For the reason that the c. c. c. details
have so crippled the service, Secretary
Dern has been compelled to take steps
to order the return on September OF
approximately 1000 officers for duty as
instructors and students at the various
service schools of the different branches
of the Army Otherwise, 1t was pointed
out at the War Department, the service
schools, highly important in the mat
ter of training could not reopen in the
Fall.
Chairman Collins of the House APP
preparations Subcommittee for the War
Department has consistently cam
paigned in recent yeasr to reduce 1.-The
established strength of the commits
stoned personnel by 1000 to 1000 Off
GERS. Army officials declare the stu
alton created by the demands of the
c. C. c. on Army personnel should fur
nish conclusive evidence that the Army
structure. as constituted, needs every
officer. They anticipate. however, re-
newed attacks on the national defense
structure when Congress reconvenes.
Secretary Dern was emphatic in re-
ferring to the disastrous effect the
withdrawal Of 5000 officers has had on
Army training.
THE withdrawal was only possible"
Dern said, "by suspending our essential
military school system, stripping regi-
ments down to one or two officers per
battalion and greatly reducing the Off
Ger personnel with our civilian COM
ponents-the National Guard: Organ
lied Reserves Reserve Officers Train
ing Camps The furnishing of these
officers. trained in the essentials of
leadership. supply. sanitation and ad-
ministratlon OF units, made the differ
ence between success and failure
The mobilization and establishment
Of the c. c. c. camps was done with
such lack Of fuss that, except for news
paper stories, the country would not
have been conscious of its taking place
THE absence of these officers from
their regular peacetime duties has
demonstrated to me that the commits
stoned personnel cannot be further re-
duced if the Army is to properly carry
out its mission under the national de-
tense act
AS near as possible. Reserve officers
will replace the 1000 commissioned Of
ficers to be withdrawn from the forest
camps on September l. but with the
duration Of the C. C. C. drawing to a
close sufficiently trained c. c. c. men
will assist.