The Washington times., 1915-10-20

pire. the whole east and south Pacific
constituting their field of operations.
militia. and contributes abodt n. so0. .rV
a year toward the Royal British navy
In consideration OF becoming real
partner In the imperial system
tenn looks to training It's citizenry Tor
soldieriy duties from the very earliest
years. In the public schools. in which.
by the way. instruction is universal NJ; 4
practcally compulsory military trainin.;
FOR boys begins at the age OF twelve,
The training In the schools is of n char
acter that is said peculiarly to fit ITSELF
into the general scheme. which IL based
on universal service. The boys learn a
vast deal that makes their later perfrc-
ton In the duties OF the soldier wonder
fully easy. In this regard Australia
has ftted its military into its civic sys-
TEN rather more naturally than hna
switzerland. Boys in the schools lcarn
organ zation. drill. obedience. from thcir
earliest years. From twelve to sixteen
years they are ranked as junior cnda; :
after sixteen. as seniors until thcv are
eighteen: then they remain as recruit :
for two years In the citizen forces This
brings them to the age o. twenty years
Must Serve Six Years.
At twerty the young man becomes
a member OF the commonwealth army
and he is under obligation for scrvic.
for six years. He Is required to civ.
sixteen days in each year to the bust
ness of drill and preparation. II
seems a remarkably lioht demand vet
by reason OF the early trairing in
the public school years II is said that
the results are excellent. Thn hsh,t
OF obedience OF acting In nnss, or
understanding the significance of
truly military dispositions is ingram
ed from the beginning.
Along with this most effective
schtm" OF hoyhood training IN the
schools, goes sort Of rt-.-raduatn
course after the soldier H. r"lenrel
at twenty-siN. from the n""raaity for
regular training. 1t is REQUIRED thai
The lescrvist shall belong to n shoot
Ing club aud maintain hls prnNcinncy
| In the serious business Of hnndlinC q
weapons and killing. Thc rif'o clubs
have been popularized In everv pos-
sihle way. In fact. Australia ar,I
Switzerland arc commonly pn,rtc.I
out as the two democraries that inv.
equipped themselves to produce tho
maXin.um natiCEal strength for nn-
ing tho army a truly national ins,liu.
| tion. In either Of the countries /; is
| an evidence Of some intellectual or
physical deficiency If II Youth Is rot
| soldier.
Not Adaptable To L. s.
Parents and children alike are con,
cerned that the boys ana young mrr
shall not only Join the military orCan!.
zation. but shall make ,'ood In It. Thu.
! there rs spirit of emulation that pro
duces excellent results. while the UNI.
versatility of II hrinEs an essence q,
democracy that seems nowhere TO r-viai
save In countries that make militia
service the common obligation OF ci,l,
zenship.
! The Australian system II not quite
adaptable to the United States, Iargcly
| because II would raise more soldiers
than this country could possibly need
australia could turn out about 5000
| good soldiers; not TIE perfected regu-
! lars or EUROPE. but vet good. reliable
fro"rF. S)n tho same basis, the system
| Wou't produce more than 6,,NO,CNn IN
| ~" "nit"p States. Perhaps the dIscI.
! rIinaTr and social advantages OF such
! y H|"'"r would Justify its adoption in
| mis- country, hut there would be nc
| imaEtnPh!e reel for such number oi
| troons n1 "u'ild ~ produced