The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-11-10
MORERESERYE
OFFICERS, IS
PLEAOFC CRAIG
Would Expand Training to
Provide 100000
New Officers
By JOHN r. BEAL
United Press Staff Correspondent

The United States should expand
its military training program so as
to have an additional 100000 Of
ficers ready for service in event
of war. Mai. Gen. Malin Craig,
chief of staff, recommended last
night.
Craig saw this many trained re-
serve officers needed in addition
to the 10000 now serving with the
amy and nearly 100000 now in
reserve. He also stressed the ne
cessity Of completing and main
taining the army's modernization
program.
Among the things needed to-
ward moderni2ation, he said, are
100000 gas masks year. Twenty
thousand were acquired this year,
he said, but "there still remains:
serious shortage in this equip
ment." More money for planes
new units as we'll as requirements
will be needed to bring the aT
feet up to the strength organized
Craie's recommendations fol.
lowed suggestions bv Secretary OF
the Navv Claude A. Swanson that
an auxiliary fleet and a strong
merchant marine be built up as
secondary line of defense. Inc
army chief of staff added that the
war departments program IS one
e alfonso ";ntended solely to
insure our national safety
Craig pointed out that the en-
listed strength of the army, under
appropriations by the last con-
press. will reach 10000 this hs-
cal wear for the first time since
the World war-an enrolment re-
parded by the high command as
the minimum needed for DEFENSE
A standing army of $4,000 was
authorized under the Nat onal
Defense Act after the war, but
limited appropriations kept the
strength down to llS,75O men iof
wears. Congress authorized an IN
crease to 10000 last year, but
fiscal limitations prevented the
army from enrolling more than
$4,000. The 1887 appropriation,
however, made possible monthly
increases which will bring the
strength to 10000 by June 3o'
Il In discussing the need for an
exnanded reserve training program
Craig said plans now in effect are
"the most liberal" since the Ma
tional Defense Act was passed.
They provide for training OF APP
proximatelv 22,S00 officers a year
But he added: -,
ANY expansion of our lana
forces to meet major emergency
will require the availability of ap-
proximately 10000 officers in
addition to the existing commls-
stoned strength of the regular
army and the national guard. :.
"These officers must be quail
fed to discharge combat or other
functions Immediately upon beng
called TO the colors. In war the
youth of our country is entitlea
to leadership of the highest pos
sible order" :
The present officer strength OF
the army is approximately l2'ooo
and the number of reserve ofticers
eI;gible for active duty totals more
than $4,000. The United states
military forces, however, both IN
numbers of those on active duty
and reserves. are smaller than the
armies of other major powers.
Craig pointed out that the re- e.
serve of available personnel lel'
over from the war is dwlndhng..
"The close of the war" ne said,
"found us with large reservoir
of trained personnel and vast
stores of war reserve material
Our available resources were then
more than ample to provide for
the national security. 1t was per-
baps the feeling Of confidence they
inspired that led to the curtailment
in military appropriations that fol-
lowed in the subsequent years.
In addition to the training OF
officers. there is need for training
enlisted reserves, Craig added, due
to the increasing age of World war
veterans.
''The war department has for
INFLATED plans for establishing the
enlisted reserve on g sound and
economical basis" he said, and |
sincerely hope that the financial
condition of the country will, in