Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-23
The Army's Needs.

Considering that the United States
Army's enlisted strength is smaller than
the armies maintained by Great Britain,
France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan,
Poland and Rumania, although our
population is vastly larger than that of
any of those nations except the Soviet
Union, it is impossible to charge this
country with "militarism." Secretary of
War Woodring, in the departments an
nual report, has just outlined the Army's
immediate needs. He advocates contin-
uance of permanent establishment of
10000 men and $4,000 officers, and an
increase of the National Guard from
$4,000 to 100000. Because of the neces-
sity of providing permanent source Of
trained supply for both officers and men,
Mr.. Woodring urges that at least 10000
Reserve officers be called to active duty
for two weeks annually. instead of the
present limit of 10000, and that funds
be made available for $4,000 youths at
Summertime Citizens Military Training
Camps, instead of the 10000 to which
the complement is restricted by current
appropriations. AS an entirely novel
proposal, the Secretary OF War projects
a Reserve of about 10000 enlisted spe-
cialists," whose exact status and duties
would be prescribed by Congress. With
respect to equipment, the head of the
War Department advocates promptest
possible execution of the building pro-
gram providing for 1920 serviceable mill
tary airplanes and speeding the mech
anization of the entire Army.
Congress is not likely to find any of
these proposals unreasonable. Expendi-
ture for purely military purposes has
substantially increased in recent years,
due to additional personnel, new equip
ment and the generally rising price level.
Critics of Army costs have to remember
ment is necessarily more expensive than
in countries which maintain CONSUMPTION
and which have standards of living in
ferior to our own. Secretary Woodring
strikes the keynote for his various recon-
mendations when he points out that "in
the light of present world conditions we
cannot afford to neglect measures for.
our own national safety. A secure de-
tense is our most dependable guarantee
against aggression by others"
1t will be for Congress to determine
after customary hearings whether the
proposed expenditures in every detail are
justifiable or desirable, but there is no
question about the fundamental sound
ness Of the proposition of maintaining
our land defense establishment at q
maximum of efficiency. The contem-
plated measures menace nobody. They
are solely for protection. If they are to
be effective, the small Regular Army
must remain well-trained and equipped,
so that in the hour of emergency it may
serve as the nucleus of the citizen forces
which, in the last analysis, constitute
that great body of manpower upon which
national defense mainly rests.
The lessons of the World War remind
us of the penny wise, pound foolish sys-
tenn of postponing military preparedness
until the eleventh hour, when danger is
at the door. It is for that reason that
the recommendation of expanded facili-
ties for Reserve officers and training
camps especially deserves favorable con-
sideration. The cost of the Army and
Navy is the premium Uncle Sam pays
for national life insurance. The policy
should not be allowed to lapse.