Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-16
ENFORCED MILITARY
TRAINING IS URGED
FOR GREAT BRITAIN
English Medical Experts
Give Reasons Why Com
pulsory Service Should Be
Adopted in That Country.

1be European war and the admitted
,,nnrorarcduess of England to place a
iaroo number or wcl-trainCd men on the
sni1 of battie las given renewed i'm
.ot,s tn the movement for compulsory
military training in England. This Is
strongly advocated In recent issues of
leading British medical journals, which
INSIST that military training Is not only
am i,nportant factor IN time of war, but
,,,, ecsses important advantages n de-
yrIoping health and mental strength in
fines Of pcucc.
Leading reasons for compulsory mill
,ar, uaining, as presented by the medical
writer's, arc rs follows:
..Itngland Is the only great Power In
Europe which mas no compulsory army
or navy service, and in time of war she
must depcrd upon volunteers who may
he enthusiastic, but are not good soldiers
because they lack the necessary training.
1hc regular British army Of more than
90 On0 men could easily he Increased to
An efficient army of several times that
number, who would not only be an eili-
cient force for national dufC nsc, but
would represent vast increase in tie
health and mental development of Eng
lishmcn.
''rhc advantages of military training
are manifold The soldier learns many
moi apply. He learns regularity of eat
ing sleeping and personal habits He
must obey the laws of hygiene, keep
clean and healthy and take care of minor
injuries He gets lessons in economy
and learns not to throw away rations
which he will need In a day or two-hc
Is taught to provide for the future. He
learns how to obey orders. He gets the
discipline of training and drilling and be-
nt hi tug1pc IL fa
taught to take care of himself in cmcr-
gencies and TO regard his personal safety.
EVERY medical expert will agree that
critical period In young mans life
lies between the years of IL and 20, and
that it is largely the discipline received
during this period and the direction given
to his mind which determines in Il great
measure his life character and worth as
citizen.
-Four beneficial aspects are claimed for
military training: First. actual defense
OF the country in time of war. Second.
development Of responsibility as a wor-
thy social unit. Third, development of
valuable mental habits of discipline of
thought. Fourth gain in bodily health,
strength and endurance.
The increasing social unrest manifested
by strikes and labor troubles Is attributed
by one medical editor to a neglect for
enforcing Il sanitary ulSClpllne ana re-
spect for authority in early manhood.
lie insists that the admirable tonic ef-
feet of military drill on both mind and
body will be upheld by all army surgeons
as good antidote for the laXity and
careessness in mind and health manifest
among the male population of non-mli-
tary countries.
Compulsory military training will not
include all men, says one authority. Not
every man who is able to do a fair days
work is suitable for soldier He may
he undesirable in character, mentality, |
habits, education and temperament and
possess physical defects which do not !
Interfere with his work, but will disqual- !
iiy him for the duties of soldier. Less !
than 90 per cent. of all volunteers are |
accepted. 1t is true that some "weedy" |
individuals may develop physically OF !
may exhibit rare courage or endurance, /
but experience shows that these are ex- |
ceptional instances. Inferior men never !
reach the firing line, as they will break !,
down at the first strain. "Wiry' men |
are wanted, but weddings are IA menace !
10 any army. Patriotism is not a fit sub |
stitute for physical fitness. Military etn- !
cheney means health, strength and activ- !
ity and these are the result of proper |
compulsory military training.