The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-05

serious shortage In ammunition
 The heavy drain on the army,B 12.000 regular officers In marshall ling tho 300,000 men in the Civil- ian Conservation Corps, has brought regular army training to tho continental United States to a virtual standstill and has almost destroyed tho readiness of units for immediate and effective cm- ploymcnt on emergency duty,' General MncArthur continued.
 The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States believes, with General MacArthur. in the rcstora- ton of m adequate national de- fonsc. This iB one of tho govern ing principles of our organization. It lB one of the emphasized points of our proposed Legislative pr0- gram. We believe that n country properly armed in times of pence will be properly protected in cnsc of n national emergency. IL fur ther is advocated hy the V. r. w. that the pay of officers and enlist. cd personnel of all branches of service bc returned to n fair and just basis. and we arc Rr1tifled to noto that General MncArthur'B recommendations for increnBing the hrmy's efficiency, ag made 0o Secretary of War Dern, includes q proviSinn to this effect.
 General MacArthur's recon mendations read, in part. "a boost in regular army enlisted strength from 120.000 to 186,O00, with i'm mediate exemption Of the enlisted man from 16 per cent pay cut"
 Tho members of our orgnnizn- ton firmly believe that no ono can hate wnr and all its horrors and utilities moro than we do, for we have seen war nt its worst. And it ls because we do hato war, not because we are milltnristIc by nn- ture. that wo believe tho armed forces of this country should be increased. strengthened md de- vclopcd. Adequate preparedness for war ia virtually our only inaur- nncc against war. So long ns hu- man nature malntains. there will continue to bo largo groups of in- divldnals who defy law. Nations are nothing moro or leBH than gr0ifps of individuals. There arc to-dny in the world whole nations which cnn be depended upon to recognize no treaty and no power except superior force intelligcntly' applied. Safety He's in reasonable preparedness. AS m organization. tho Veterans of Foreign Wars of tho United states has repeatedly and emphhtlcnlly urged and stressed this principle. Obvious ly. tho strength and efficiency of Amcricn's standing army. on Il basis that provides adequate pr0- tection in limos of peace and yet aesures IL strong nucleus for n well trained military forcc in the event of einergoncics. iH tho very founda- ton of adequate national defense.
 As m organization of veterans. most of whom hnvo seen active service nt tho front, either in the Phiiippines, Cuba, Mexico, Porto Rico. Nicaragua. in tho A. E. r. or on the high nehs and in hostile waters with tho U. E. Navy. the V. F, W. rccoRnizcs the value of an adequate national defense built upon tho high morale and esprit do corps of m army sccond to none; with all ita component pnrts and its reserve strength ready and able to function whon need should arise.
 As an organization. wo pay de- served tribute to those men who nre dovoting their lives nt tho pres. ent timo in tho nciive service or their country and the peace time development of its military ro- duirements. We are making every effort to focus public attention on tho particular needs for nn ndc- qunto national defense, In order that our soldiers of the future may be enabled 10 maintain md pre- serve tho inaiiintions of American freedom ao dear to every patriotic citizen.