The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-10
TRAINING YOUTHS TO ARMS.
How the schools and the MiIitiu May
Supplement- the Regulars.
New York Sun.

The Importance attached of late to popu-
lar military education is illustrated alike in
the attention given to the subject of Secre-
tary Lamont in his report and by the recent
act or Congress increasing the number OF
officers that may be detailed for the in
struction of colleges and schools. When 1t
is reflected that these details are made al
most or quite exclusively from company
officers in the line, il will be understood
how much value the War Department at
tacheS to this system. 1t becomes, to some
extent, the economical substitute in this
country Tor that extensive military train
ing which, In Europe, makes such a drain
on the industrial resources of the country
ana on the careers OF young men, The
American system, at its present rate of
growth IL may soon come to be called,
merely gives the rudimentS of military drill
TO the youth in the schools, so that they
can then either enter the organized militia,
If they choose, already fitted to do duty,
or VIII be ready and partly trained in case
the country calls for their services.
In the Journl of the Military Service In
seitution General Wingate advocates Sug-
gestion of Captain Zalinski that the States
should carry much further this system of
military education by introducing it into
drill is now practiced in some cities In
Boston, for example, the high school and
Latin school battalions. formed of the
special purposes of school parades, march
ing and maneuvers are also taught, as
during the Washington centenary exercises
in New York. In Jersey City and else
where certain Sunday schools have uni
formed military companies. But Gen.
Wingate thinks that an excellent promoter
Army of the Republic. And, in fact, that
body, at its last encampment, passed a
resolution on the subject Noting that our
policy is TO maintain only small stand
ing army, and that the rapidity of modern
wars makes it dangerous TO rely wholly on
the instruction that can be given to hasty
levies OF volunteers, ii proposed giving to
the youths at school a preliminary military
training. 1t recommended IAN organ
various municipal, state and ma
tieral authorities the ACCESSIBILITY of the
adoption of d system by which scholars at
terding the public and private schools, as
well as the high schools and colleges, shall
receive Instructions in military matters,
and TO impress upon the rising generation
of the country the fact that, as American
citizens it is their high duty to bring to
the defense of their country, in it's need,
the education which they may have re-
ceived In this particular in their youthful
days" OF course, such a scheme should
be carried out only with sound Judgment
50 that it may not change the character
of our public school system except for the
better. General Harrison well said to the
National Association of Teachers that the
strength and defense of our institutions,
not only in peace but in war. and the great
reserve, compared with which the army
and even the organized militia are very
! small, are Sin the instructed young of our
lard who come to it's defense in time of
PERIL
General Wirgate further suggests that the
army ana militia should as much pOSSi-
bic act in unison, as, for example, in prac-
tice MARCHES. This has occasionally been
dcne. as when, few months ago, Captain
Dillenback's battery marched to the Peeks-
kill camp in connection with National Guard
batteries. But the system could be carried
out on a much larger scale. Says General
Let suppose that an officer having a
command near a large city containing some
National Guard regiments desires TO take
a. step in this direction. He works out a
plan for march between two neighborine
points affording suitable ground (as, for ex-
ample. from Willets Point TO Creedmore)
as If through an enemy's country, and then
invites the National Guard officers of the
vicinity to cooperate in carrying it out.
regular and National Guard officers, BIZ
cycle scouts, etc, are from time to time
sent along the proposed route to recon
hotter and map il. and, TO impress upon all
concerned how this work ought to be done
are required to submit their maps and re-
ports for criticism and discussion to Join,
meetings of the officers who have agreed ,tC
participate. The problems connected with
the proposed maneuver relating to the call
Visoning and fighting the command arc
also submitted, studied, and discussed in the
same way, until all that can be. obtained
learned. Then the march is made, at some
time when the crops will permit IL, with
the regular forces and such National Guard
organizations as will volunteer. This idea
IL will be seen, presupposes a winters worl
before the actual march takes place; Q
winter of study and thought, during which
there would be officers meeting every
week alternate week, to discuss tho
practical military questions arising out OF
such affair. and which meetings would
be attended by the brightest of the Nationa
Guard officers as well as by the regulars
Such practice marches might be of mutua
benefit, and this is only one way in which
cooperation between the professional anC
the citizen soldiers could be carried out. i
is evident that there is a general movement
to bring TO a higher standard the efficienc,
of the organized militia and the genera
military training of the peopIe