New-York tribune., 1915-03-25
FOR PREPAREDNESS.
Military Science Should BE Taught in
Schools and Colleges.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

Schools anu SOieSeS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit me to express ny protest
against the action of the students Of the Col
lege of the City of New York in refusing 10
pursue the study Of military science and
tactics. As the City College is supported en-
tirely by funds Of the city the authorities
should make compulsory the admission Of the
study of military science and tactics to its
curriculum as do many other universities o.
the state and nation.
Princeton University has recently made
the study of military science and tactics part
Of its curriculum. It is unfortunate that
such educators as David Starr Jordan, Chan
cellor of Stanford University. should be op-
posed to military training in the schools. If
he and others who are opposed to this propo-
.ition would read the article written by
Major Joseph Frazier of the United States
Army, published in the May number of "The
Journal of the Military Service Institution"
entitled military Education of the Youth of
the Country" think they would change their
views.
The late DR.. Draper, Commissioner Of Edu-
cation of the State of New York, stated to
me that he was in favor of introducing into
the public schools the study. by boys over
fourteen years of age, of military science and
tactics, through a series of lectures to be de
livered once week by national guard Of
fcers, and in accordance with those views
prepared bill along those lines and intro
duced it into the Legislature, but, unfortu-
nately, DR.. Draper died before the bill could
have a hearing If he had lived the law
would have been on statute books to-day.
Indeed il is tragic to see men in this coun-
try of intelligence and patriotism advocating
so-caled pacfcsm. They have done more
to prevent this country from being properly
prepared to withstand aggression from with
out and insurrection from within than any
other class of citizens.
The United States is one of the world
powers By that term mean civilized world
powers and history clearly shows that no
world power ever continued 10 exist as such
very long without an efficient army and navy.
Militarism is a force necessary to be used
in order TO make right might It has in its
origin a healthy tendency healthful ma
ton must enforce its right of existence and
liberty against all exterior inimical forces,
and no means have as yet been found on this
earth to conserve and enforce these essential
rights save by the use of force.
When the pacihsts state that we can do
without an army or navy they seem 70 for
get that this country, although very young
as compared with the nations Of Europe, has
in the 40 years of its existence had the
the Revolution, the Northwest Indian war,
the French war (naval), the Tripol war
(navaD, three wars with the Greek Indians,
two wars with the Seminole Indians, the
Black Hawk war, the Cherokee war; the Mex
can War, the Texas and New Mexican Indian
war. the Oregon and Washington Territory
Indian wars, the Civil War, the Spanish
American War, the Philippine insurrection,
the trouble over the relief Of Peking and our
recent trouble with Mexico at Vera Cruz.
The number of soldiers and sailors engaged
in these wars was 437l,903.
Now, who will guarantee that our country
will not again be called TO engage in war,
and who can prophesy that it will not b.
with great foreign power, equal to that Of
Germany, France or even England? Is it
not the duty of this country to be properly
prepared, especially when we consider that
under the terms and conditions of the Mon
roe Doctrine we are virtually committed to
the protection of all the nations on this con-
tinent from foreign oppression or aggres-
sion? LOUIS A. CUVILLIER
New York, March 20, 1915.