The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-19
THE EXPERIENCE or ARMIES.
Arguments for . C0nseription Law by
Retired Brig dier.G cnerAl.

To THE Enron OF TIE suN--Sir: A just
c;nscriptIon law, that made every young
Prusslan, Prince and peasant, q thoroughly
disciplined soldier. changed the little Prts-
sian nation into the great German Empire.
Some years ago Japan adopted the German
law OF conscrlptlon and has defeated Russia
on land and sea.
In 1862 the Confedcrates adopted the then
PrussIan law Of CONSUMPTION. This gave them
excellent armies that fought Its stronger
antagonist on equal terms for four years
with reasonable prospect Of success.
During the French Revolution every young
man had to serve. which In q few years gave
France fine armies. and combined with the
genius OF Napoleon enabled France to DOM
mate Europe and the world.
After his fall tho French authorities de-
stroyed the beneficial features Of the con-
scription law. That Ia. they exempted the
nobility and higher classes from serving In
tho ranks and required only a few OF the
poorest financially young men to serve.
and they were selected by lot.
Tho French armies were beaten by the
Germans In 1901. or COURSE as soon a.
the war commenced all young Frcnchmen
enlisted. but there was no time to discipline
them Undiscpllned courage is useless
against an army Of equal numbers Of disci-
plned soldiers. The French civilian was not
accustomed to firearms. so was useless as q
soldier even behind breastwork.
During the first year Of our civil war five
young Yankee soldiers died Of sickness and
disease to one killed by the Confederatcs.
During the Spanish war nine young Yankee
soldiers died OF sickness and disease 10 one
killed by the Spaniarda-
During the Franoo-German war the Ger
mans reversed this. One German soldier
died OF sickness and disease to two German
soldiers killed by the French-a record never
before or since made by any army.
The possible explanation Ia that every
German who went into that war had served
at least one year as O private soldier In the
regular army. having been taken into the
army by the CONSUMPTION law the first October
after he became IL years Of age. When be
entered as a conscrlpt II he had not had the
childish diseases (measles. mumps, chicken
pox, &c) as a boy at home. he promptly had
them when the oonscripts met but was soon
nursed back to health
II he became homesick, few days good
conduct furlough brought him back from
home cured and cheerful His military
exercises gradually increased in severity az
his strength and skill increased. If wounded
his well trained and healthy body gave him
reasonable chance OF recovering rapidly.
Most important Of all. he was disciplined.
That Is. he had acquired the habit OF imme-
diatey and correctly obeylng every order
without regard to the discomfort or danger
it subjected him to.
So when he went into the war he did not
get homesick and depressed. He knew that
every German OF his age was in the army.
and that his term OF military service would be
throughout the war and until it ended.
During the Revolution, the War of 1912
and our civil war many minute and three
months men left the army the moment their
time expired. causing disaster to the army.
Possibly their reason for going was home
sickness, combined with O feeling of in
justice. They knew there were thousands
OF young men In the North enjoying tn o
comforts of home. whose duty it was to be
In the army taking their proper share OF dis
comfort and danger.
The German was immune to some diseases.
United States Senator who had been a
General in the Confederate army said. in
referring to childish diseases. When they
broke out in my division the weather was
cold. rainy and depressing. and my men
died of like sheep with the rot. If it had
been In time Of peace we could have taken
proper care of them and very few II any
would have died."
The German knew his military duty and
performed 1t. At the end of the war he was
examined. and II not disabled he was dis
charged. He believed every man owes
military service to his country, and during
his military service he had been fed. clothed
and paid by his country, and he had no further
claim because every German had in his turn
given similar military service for mutual
benefit. and II one had claim all would be
entitled to the same. VETERAN.
New YoRR Auo ~