Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-17
or WAR HAS
SCHEME FOR IMPROVING DE.
FENs.vE OF NATION.
sHoRT.TERM ENLlsTMEN1s
FINDING MUCH FAVOR
System Suggested Is Foundation Plan
Of German Army, Shown to BE Most
Successful - Army Officers Being
Won Over in Favor Of Garrison's
Idea.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Oct. 1T-Secretary OF
War Garrison in his annual report will
recommend legislation for the army
looking to the building UP Of a reserve.
For some years. there has been much
talk in and out of congress Of re-
taking the field quickly in case of need.
The army legislation now provides for
:, reserve but it is based on long
period OF enlistment and it is not ac-
complishing much in the way of bring
ing a bout Il large trained reserve force
The idea of Secretary Garrison ls
different and is based on system rad
ieally at variance with the plan now
being tried. 1t is founded on the idea
OF short term eniistmcnts. thus making
the army great training school Tor
Young men who have a snort period IN
the service and after being converted
into competent soldiers. VIII be sent
back into civil life TO pursue their usual
callines. The same iGea in effect has
been recommended by General Leon
ard Wood and by many OF the ablest
military men in this country,
Foundation Of German System.
Furthermore tho many people do not
understand this, Il is the foundation
principle OF the German system. which
has produced such marvellous results.
II is n fact. tho many do not realize
II. that Gnermaay IS fighting the pres
ent war wi:h men whose enlistments
have been for short terms ard who.
after berg trained, have gerc back 10
civil life.
The plan Shicf Secretary Garrison
favors is one which does moi look TO Che
establishment in tits country of IN
army OF professional soldiers. Nor does
i, look 70 large s;apding army In
.hc United States arGy there Is
school OF officers Nho Want the arm"
to be professional body. They %ar-
lons-:erm eniietnents. soTretnins tles
have succeeded IN getting. Inder tiiis
system. the man wilo goes into taf
army young man and remains IN II
tintn the e~of retirement is looked
or with favor. This system Is the one
easiest for the officers and naturally
rnany Of than favor i; tho the more
progressive and up-to-d date officers are
being won over IN large numbers 10 tae
short term enlistment.
Americans Soon Trained.
Plenty Of PROOF can be had ana recent
experiments III the American army
nave shown that a voting man VINO -
Of average capacity and has an Inter-
Is. In soldering cam NJ trained III
short time. II can be done in = year
under competent officers and nom
commissioned officers. IL WAY time. II
has often been done in legs Two
Years Is amply long. If eni!stmen,s
. we're for q sbort p"rind. So two years
4! tx calculated there would be con-
stan; stream oi men entering and .eaT-
ing the army highly trained and avail
able for call to the colors for Il number
Of years II they were needed. They
would not re- enlist and would not he
allowed 10 unless i'm the time OF their
enlistment they had riser 10 become
non commissioned officers.
The advocates of such system point
out that IL operates 10 Withdraw Young
men from civil life for but short tiinf
and instead 81 making them profess
! sional soldiers, gives them the phys!-
F.! ca. and mental benefit of Q military
I training and then enables them to sc
! back 10 the farm or store or factory
! without loss of opportunities as civil
! ians to make their wa% In the world
! 1t gives the army topnotch men as non
I commissioned officers. some of whom
! rise to obtain commissions. How inn
/ portant plenty of good non commits
stoned officers. sergeants and corpor'
ais are. in making an effective army
every militarr man knows. This is ONT
OF the great secrets of the German mil
I, tary efficiency.
Will Congress Act?
Whether congress will take hold o
the army problem and do some think
ing about it remains to be seen. A
present. tho there are enormous ex
penditures on II. and the force so ia
J, as it goes is highly efficient. it fall