New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-03
An Open Forum
THE AMERICAN LEGION
Men Without Military Training Can Help
Greatly in Its Work

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; As the information about the Amer
lean Legion published in to-days New
York papers was given to the press by
CAPTAIN Johnston, DR.. Hausmann and my
self perhaps you will help me correct
wrong impre sion that most readers may
receive from the account as published, since
otherwise the public is likely to receive an
entirely wrong idea Of the fundamental nat
ure and purpose OF the Legion.
Let me state clearly that the Legion con
sists of two practically distinct branches.
First. the line, composed of men who for
merly served with our army and navy and
of other men with somewhat similar tram
ing, who can at least handle modern hlgh
power rifle and take care OF themselves
roughng it in the open. Second and THIS
is the service that so far has not been made
plain to the public what Is called the spe-
cial service.
For this special service branch of the
Legion no military training whatever IS
necessary, and its members need never even
have seen q high power rife. II IS to D.
composed OF ordinary civilians, and the
only training asked OF thom Is that already
received in any one of the thirty or forty
occupations that become in case OF war as
vitaIly necessary 20 the coUntry's defence
such trades and professions as those OF
doctor, railroad man, aviator, chauffeur
radio operator. blacksmith, etc, etc.
Americans as q people are so unta m ilar
with the vast and complicated machinery
hat must be pat IN motion IN our own
case, created in the event Of modern
war that to many of them the need OF units
organized in advance from the occupa' oni
listed above may seem IN no way pres ing.
To any orc at all yersed in the matter OF
armies or nayics the war time need OF such
occupa ions is fully rs urgent as IS the
need for men with rifles. Indeed. 1t - per
haps In its special service branch that the
LEGION would be able 70 offer the most valu-
able aid to our country at crisis, ard we
make particular appeal 20 al good Amer
can citizens who are eligible through such
training 70 enrolment in the America lie
gion. During peace the amount Of time and
expense required as q result OF such enrol
ment il negligible. In case OF war the
value to our country Of such previous en-
rolment and organization would be in
calcuable.
one other point should be empha si1ed
most strongly. It is not the intention OF
the Legion to raise an army" II asks for
absolutely no military service of any KIND
what soever during peac.. Il means no ad
dit,onal national expenditure for materia s Of
war. 1t means on.y the listing and organic
ing in advance Of already existing matera
OF the men who would be needed ut tn
first call for volunteers. To do IN row i
comparatively simple. To do it du.iag IN p
terrihca.ly crowded and confused DAYS fol
lowing a declaration Of war would be no.
only difficult but perhaps fatally slow
when speed had become one OF the mos
vital things in the United States.
The American Legion is designed solely
for national defence in case of pos ibl'
emergency. a more conservative st p in
that direction could hardly be imagined Yet
it is the only practical step taken in that
direction which gives 70 American citizens
generally the opportunity 70 do some,hin
instead OF merely sFecula,ing over poss bic
eyentualities, worrying over them and wish
ing they could do something toward max
ing move sure our universal hope Of peace.
OF, if the worst should come 70 the w0rs-
and war be forced upon US. do something
toward building up our means of defence
against spcliation and disgrace.
Our appeal is made direc. TO the citizens
Of the whole country. That il will be re
ceived in the same spirit as that in which
il is made is already evidenced by the mail,
kilograms and telephone messages with
VII oh we are flooded few hours after the
publication of the appeal.
ARTHUR s. HOFFMAN.
Richmond Hill, Long Island, March /, 1915.