Arizona republican., 1914-11-27
BOOSTING F0R
 NATIONAL GUARD
(Contributed)


 In paSt years many great thinkers have said and written much con- dtmning the compulsory military service policy of Germany and other European countries. There are no doubt many flaws in this system but on the other hand. the success with which Germany is battling agaInst the allied powers of the world says much in favor of their methods. In the United States we have q very small standing army. Since the revolution our wars have been fought and won by volunteers. We are per haps prone to think that in case we should ever be involved in another war our volunteers could again do all that was necessary. They cant. In the past twenty five years the meth eds of carrying on warfare have SC changed that no matter how expert in the use of their weapons body of men may pc, unless they are tram ed and disciplined they become put little better than an armed mob when they engage in battle under mOdein conditions.
 IL is the purpose of our govern ment to make the backbone of our fighting force the organized militia cur government will not cripple the progress of the country by maintaIn- ing d large and burdensome standing army, but some sort of military or sanitation we must have The na- uonal guard is the answer It is the cuty of every able bodied man of pro per age to become a member of ,he national guard.
 This is the patriotic side of ,he question. There is another side-tne selfish one
 There IS no argument necessary in favor of military training for indiv- idual and personal betterment. Phy sically and mentally. a years military training under competent and consci- Cntious officers and instructors will do more toward developing the latenr rnwers of a man than perhaps any thing else in which he might engage
 II must bc admitted that for the past few wears our local militia com panies have not been much to brag upon. It is not surprising that some of the young men who have joined them have. after attending a few drills, gone away disgusted When q man has learned the rudiments of drilling and then is kept doing tho same thing over and over again in company with new recruits and those who for lack of attendance never learned these first steps, he is not To be blamed for dropping it and ra- gretting that he ever enlisted.
 This state of affairs is now a thing or the past. With their new armory and equipment the members of Com panies A and B will accomplish great things during the next year It is expected that within a short time men will consider themselves forum ate to be permitted to join. and when once they become members will he proud of their organization. The old siipshOd. half-hearted method of pro cedure is as dead as an exposed card in poker game. During the next Year we will pursue a plan of study is carefully and logically arranged as q college course. Captain Stacy of the regular army, who has made the mllitia of a number of other states or sanizatiOns of strength and efficiency. is here, and already the local com panies have made wonderful progress under his direction
 We want recruits. Beside the in struction the new recruits will re- ceive, we have to offer a club room outftted with reading tables and piano-and this is only start. Be side this there are shower baths and above all an exceptionally fine hard wood drill floor which will also De used, in the course of the next few months, for dances and receptions, for we intend to make the guard" q sO- cial as well as a military organiza- ton.
 Company A meets every Wednes- day at o'clock and Company B ev- cry Thursday evening, and a cordial invitation is hereby extended to ev- eryone in Phoenix to be preseet and watch us drill and see what we can do for the young men of the city