New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18
CITIZEN SOLDIERY
A Comprehensive Scheme for En-
rolment and Training Needed.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Our President has repeatedly stated
his opinion that when war comes we can
rely on our citizen sodiery for our defence.
We will agree with him in that, provided the
citizens are soldiers. But the facts OF the
case at the present time are that our citizens
are not soldiers.
We do not know what the Presidents con
cepton of citizen soldiers is, but to the mind
of n layman II means trained men, and as
you cannot train men singly for military ser
vice it means organization; and to do that
we have to enroll the men who are liable for
military service and then arrange them INTO
classes according to their ages. When those
prelimnares are completed the different
classes can be formed into companies and
regiments, brigades, divisions and army
corps, and then, when they are properly
equipped and trained sufficiently to under
stand their business, we shall have citizen
soldiers" ready to be called out at moments
notice and ready also to do their duty
The volunteer system broke down at the
end Of the second year OF our Civil War, and
Congress went at work to frame draft law,
which was passed March 3, 1863. The Presi-
dent proceeded Immediately to appoint en-
rolling boards to put the law into force.
But il was six months before any draft
ed men appeared in the army, and then they
were simply raw recruits. II took six months
more to make soldiers Of them. The Con-
federates passed much harsher law year
sooner, and kept their armies filed, so that
the struggle hung in the balance for two
years, although we of the North had double
the population and ten times the wealth OF
the South. Because of our lack Of system
at that time to organize our military strength
the war lasted more than year longer than
it should and cost twice as much as IL should.
In the light of the above facts, to remain
in our present unprepared condition is little
short of criminal. 1t is the duty of Congress
to provide scheme for strengthening our
defensive position. II it were called into
extra session at once and went to work on
laws for new military system it would be
some months before it got it completed
and it would probably take six months to
get it into operation, and it would be a whole
year before we could make any substantial
progress.
Let no one delude himself with the idea
that it will be short and easy job for Con-
GIcSS u loImuIdte ana pass law lot "a new
military system. II will not The 36th Con-
gress wrangled through a whole session on
the draft law and passed it on the last day.
Our military needs at the present time are a
far more intricate question, and if it is put
off till the regular session in December, with
so many things to claim the attention of
Congress, it will be well along in the next
summer before any measure can be passed.
and it will take some months longer to or
ganze the administrative part Of it, so that
little will be done during Wilson's term to
increase our military strength. Therefore,
Congress should be called at once into extra
session W. f..
Walton n. Y, Aug. u, 1915.