COAST ARTILLERY, JOURNAL - Air Defense Artillery

Address at Fifth Annual Convention, Reserve
Officers' Association of the United States
By MAJOR GENERAL JOHN L. HINES
ITgives me pleasure again to attend a convention of the Reserve
Officers' Association of the United States. During my four years
in the War Department I have come to know thoroughly the commendable
purposes and accomplishments of this Association. Your support
and interest not only have been an incentive to our efforts, but have
caused you to give us much valuable assistance and advice.
Your annual conventions constitute an excellent occasion upon
which to analyze our progress in the fulfillment of the National Defense
Act. Such an analysis is highly desirable if we are to secure that
benefit from experience which is essential to progress. Therefore, in
my talk of today I will attempt to discuss those current subjects which
I consider most important in our field of common interest.
When we look back we find that distinct gains have been made with
the project for the Organized Reserves. Our satisfaction with that
progress depends upon the basis by which we measure our condition.
If we apply the standard of our enthusiastic expectations after p.assage
of the National Defense Act of 1920, then we are bound to feel disappointment.
On the other hand, if we consider the advance of the
Organized Reserves with respect to other elements of the Army of the
Vnited States, then we may feel elated. Of course, satisfaction should
be tempered by realization of the fact that the Organized Reserves
were due to make comparatively greater strides by reason of their
more recent creation.
In 1922 provision was made to train 630 reserve officer~for fifteen
days, under the limitations of an appropriation of $250,000. In 1926
provision was made for fifteen days' training of 16,000 reserve officers
under an appropriation of 83,674,800. Distinct progress has been
made with respect to the organization and procedure to assure full
consideration for the Organized Reserves. Before the World War administration
of all military elements, except the Regular Army, was
largely centered in the War Department. The i\ational Defense Act
provided a basis for the decentralization our World War experie!1ce
had indicated as essential to a speedy mobilization. Such a step meant
that an increased scope of interest was apportioned to chiefs of
branches, supply services, and territorial commanders.. Work upon the
[523J