Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/53

Rh all but despair. Well indeed is it for America that these splendid civilian soldiers are strong of heart and light of spirit. They need all they possess of both. Given fifteen days’ training per year only, and where would we be for doctors, carpenters, dentists, plumbers, lawyers, farmers, bakers, bankers ? Why, that’s easy, for America simply would not, could not, be America—our America! And yet for war, admittedly the most difficult art and science known to all mankind, in its demands running the whole gamut of business, scientific and professional knowledge, with much additional learning required that is purely military (tactical, strategical, command, supply, etc., etc.)—to acquire all this needful knowledge of the essentials of war but fifteen days of annual training is authorized!

But that is not all—the facts are worse still. The plans authorized by law are dependent—

1. Upon a sufficiency of Regular Army personnel to supervise and impart training. The numbers of that personnel were recently reduced to a figure which forbids, absolutely, fulfillment of the needs of training.

2. On the fact that all plans are contingent on annual appropriations which to date have been wholly insufficient, and highly problematical until near the annual training period, thus cutting short the time for planning the best use of the limited appropriations finally available.

The funds for training are so inadequate that in one corps area, having over 8,000 Reserve officers, about one in eleven could be sent to the summer training camp. A few attended absolutely at their own personal expense, so highly did they regard the privilege. There are not many who can afford this, nor should it be necessary.

Counting out of the fifteen-day training period the two Sundays included therein and allowing one day travel to camp, and the same for return to their homes, a total of four days are lost from the fifteen, reducing this to eleven days. Since the appropriations, as shown, permit only about one out of eleven Reserve officers to attend the annual camp, it is apparent that instead of fifteen days’ annual training the officers will get but one period of eleven days of training in eleven years!