The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1936. AMERICA’S ARMY.

Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 8

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1936. AMERICA’S ARMY.

Among the world’s forces the United States army is eighteenth in size, and second in cost. Only that of the Soviet Union requires greater outlay. Naturally enough the outside world wonders why there is an insistent demand for further military expenditure, which demand is answered by the introduction in Congress of an Appropriation Bill calling for the provision of a huge sum. Several reasons can be found for the proposal to vote money to increase the strength of the army. It must be admitted at the outset that the United States is to all intents and purposes free from invasion. There is no possible chance of a warlike incursion from Canada, while as for Mexico, the present American forces would be quite sufficient for practical purposes in the unlikely event of hostilities arising from a quarrel with that State. So far as the rest of the world is con-

cernecl distance and the American navy are a guarantee against invasion. But the United States military high command is not satisfied. It points to the fact that during the summer of 1935 not more than 30,000 regular troops could have been mustered in the United States to fight an enemy at any given moment. There is abundant evidence that American sentiment is strongly against participation in another world war, no matter how urgent the call in the interests of international justice; consequently the idea must prevail that protection of American interests in the Pacific might conceivably call for action by military intervention. In this connection attention may be directed to the remarks of Senator Pittman, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, in his criticism of Japanese policy towards China, which, he says, meant tho abandonment of the “ open door.” He declared that Congress would not be “bulldozed” into abandonment of national defence and protection of America’s foreign trade or her commerce with China.

If Congress passes the sum asked for in the new Bill it will be the largest military appropriation since the World War. The United States army consists of three components—the regular array', the National Guard, and the organised reserves. The normal peace-time strength of these sections is approximately 500,000 officers and men. The regular army, which is small in size, consists of professional soldiers. It provides a good job, for during the three-year term of enlistment the men are paid a minimum of twenty-one dollars a month, and they are fed, clothed, housed, and trained. By becoming a technical specialist or a noncommissioned officer, a soldier may increase his pay to as much as a hundred and fifty-seven dollars a month. After thirty years’ service he may retire on three-quarters pay. This is tho nucleus of America’s military forces, and is very similar in many respects to the position in Great Britain. Next comes the National Guard, the potential army in case of war. It is composed of citizen-soldiers, who drill once a week and spend two weeks annually in camp. They receive a small retaining fee. The third component of the army is the organised reserves, consisting mostly of former officers and specialists. Thus, the army is a complex organisation, capable of being moulded quickly into a formidable force. Yet it is not merely a war machine. It carries out great peacetime operations in the development of the country in road-making, flood prevention works, and many other national activities. The digging of the Panama Canal was the work of the army, and it is still responsible for the operation of the canal and the ad : jacent zone. It is clear that America is determined to maintain her defence forces —army, navy, and air—at a high point of efficiency, and plans are being made so that their functions shall dovetail in the event of a national emergency arising, and with the least possible civic confusion.