Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-17
u. S. DEPENDS
ON 10000 MEN

| Continued from Page One
contribute in any appreciable degree to
the national defense. Sixty thousand
mllitiamen plus 10000 regulars make a
sum total OF 10000 men to repel an in
vading army along the 12,oOO-mile border
and 4OoO-mile coast Of this country.
They could watch football game in
the now Yale stadium without crowdinB,
| and the $50 900 children who go to the pub
| lie schools in Philadelphia every winter
morning could watch the game. too, one
on each knee of every man there.
100000 IN EUROPE.
Twelve million men are now under arms
in Europe, according to the latest esti-
mates.
The United States could raise, 1t Is esti-
mated, after a lapse OF months following
the declaration of hostilities, a volunteer
army of 1000. 900 men. That number would
require 5000 officers to handle 1t. There is
no class OF persons In the country who
have had the training to Mt them for Of
fcers Of volunteers amounting to any
thing like that number. The Government
is attempting to remedy this latter defect
by the system of summer camps for coll
lege and business men, such as the one
that will be held at Plattsburg, N. Y,
during the month of August.
Beyond a million volunteers many be-
lieve that this country would have great
difficulty obtaining additional recruits.
They back up their contention with his
torical facts. In the War of the ,Revolu-
ton, according to them, the colonies at
the beginning had an army of approxI-
mately $1,000 men. At its close $4,000
men were enrolled and 1t had been impos-
slble for months to get more. During the
War of 1872 an invading force Of British
burned the capitol at Washington opposed
by a wretchedly inadequate defensive
force, the largest available, mainly be-
cause the United States. in order to get
any volunteers at all, had to confine the
enlistment to three months.
= The Mexican War was successful, but
largely ydbeoausel Madic oswas dessopreparsd
'thun was this country at the; time During
the Civil War, 1t is pointed out, conserip-
ton had to be resorted to one year after
the war started and the large elites were
the scenes OF fnumerous' draught riots. The
Spanish War did hottest. history shows,
the recruiting strength Of the United
States and the volunteer apathy OF the
country did not have an opportunity to
assert itself at that time.
CITY TAKES STEPS.
In Philadelphia. to remedy the above
conditions, two plans are under foot. One
is the formation of a branch of the Ma
tional Security League here and the other
is the introduction OF military training In
the high schools, as proposed by DR.. JOS
eph Leidy
The object of the league Is to prepare
the nation against attack, and branches
have already been established in Boston
and Chicago.
The local branch OF the league will be
organized next Thursday at a meeting In
the Racquet Club. Men OF national promi-
nence are expected to speak,
The plan to establish branch here was
brought about by visit of u. Woodward
Duke, the national secretary, and William
McComb, the field secretary. These men
have been In consultation with represen.
tative Phlladelphians who are much inter
ested in the work.
The military training plan for the Cen
trail High School, for which Doctor Leidy
has offered $1,000. provided 100 Philadei-
phians will each contribute a similar
amount, has received a strong endorse
ment from Major General Leonard Wood.
United States Army, stationed at Cover
nor's Island.
"1 believe thoroughly" said General
Wood. ''in military training in high
schools. and believe that you will be very
fortunate II you are able to establish
II in the high schools OF Philadelphia,
especially II you can secure an officer OF
the army TO supervise the instructions"
Doctor Leidy. when he made the offer
few days ago, asserted that military
training Is as beneficial to those taking
II as is participation In sthletics.
William II, Hollar. an engineer, has
anered 10 give the second 1900.