Accession Number:

AD0760913

Title:

Toward a Post World War I Military Policy: Peyton C. March vs. John McAuley Palmer

Descriptive Note:

Monograph

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Fisher, Ann

Report Date:

1973-02-05

Pagination or Media Count:

61.0

Abstract:

In October 1919, LTC John McAuley Palmer, Chief of the War Plans Branch, War Department, testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Military Affairs and discredited the plan for the future structure of the Army prepared by the Chief of Staff of the Army, Peyton C. March. Basically, the controversy between General March and Colonel Palmer rested on the size of the Regular Army in peacetime. This was not a new issue. There has been controversy over the size of the Army since Revolutionary War days. Therefore, a survey of literature on general military policy was made to better understand the proposals for a postwar army sent to Congress in 1919. In addition, the writings of General March and Colonel Palmer and their interpreters were examined to understand how these officers arrived at opposing positions. The Senate Hearings on Reorganization of the Army after World War I are examined in some detail to determine congressional reaction to various proposals for the future structure of the Army. The policy that was finally passed as the National Defense Act of 1920 placed its main reliance for mobilization on the National Guard and Reserves.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY RESERVES
• COMBAT READINESS
• DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• HISTORY
• MILITARY TRAINING
• NATIONAL DEFENSE

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE