The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-12-02
"Arm The Eagle Right"

''Arm The Eagle Right
Writing in Everybody's Magazine
Howard Wheeler gives some sensible
suggestions as to how the United
States should proceed so as to be ade-
quately guarded against invasion.
That we are woefully weak from a
military viewpoint no one can deny,
and that conditions must be remedied
is obvious.
Mr.. Wheeler suggests a military
system based on universal training,
that has been so successful in Switzer-
land, which is peace and liberty low
ing nation, but believes in having ade-
quate means to maintain it's independ-
ence. He says:
We can have our 100000 or $4,000 or
100000 trained officers without the
spectacle of swashbuckling snobs in
gold braid struttlng along our side
walks and insulting our citizens. We
can have them without upsetting our
institutions, and without spending
very much more money then we are
spending now. That. is why the pro-
posal for one or two more West Points
is so silly. We do not want and we do
not need any more West Points or a
bigger West Point. What we need
is intelligent organization and super
vision of schools where some sort of
military instruction is already being
given.
We now have in the United States
fifty land-grant colleges where mill
tary instruction is given from one to
three years. We have fifty-one other
colleges and schools such as the Vir-
ginia Military Institute, Culver, and
st. Johns College, where military in
struction is given under the direction
Of regular army officers. In order to
standardize military instruction in
these schools, four hundred additional
officers would be needed. They could
be supplied on thirty days. notice.
Now it costs the government ST.
100000 a year to maintain West Point.
There are approximately six hundred
students there. It has been estimated
that every officer who comes from
West Point costs the government $1O,-
600 for his education. Should we
adopt program of training 5000 Off
GERS year, the cost would be $780,
100000. We can get the 5000 officers
if we want them, at a cost that will
be not more than one-fifth of that.
Should we pay a military student
$l5 a month for ten months in the
year for his four years service in COL
lege, he would cost us 5000. Should
we, upon his graduation, allow him
SIX months at a commissioned officers
pay in the regular army, he would re-
ceive approximately $1,4O0. The to-
tai cost of his education would be ST.
600, The cost of educating 5000 men
IN this way each year would be $1O,-
900. In addition to the fact that
we should have thoroughly trained
military expert, we should have turned
out citizen sound physically, real
military asset, and should have pro-
vided him with $1,000 profit at the
close of his military instruction which
he could use in establishing himself
in II civil life.
We must develop and organize our
business and industrial resources to
the point where, in time of war, NUM-
lions and supplies for our defending
army can be furnished in maximum
quantity with minimum loss of time
and with minimum waste.
We must increase our naval power
to the point where it becomes a real
and adequate defense. That point has
been indicated.
we must increase, organize, and
equip our, paid standing army to the
point where it can successfully dis
charge the duties laid upon it,
We must create a reserve strength
which will give US, with our standing
army, frst-line of land defense Of
not less than 100000 men and a sec
ond-line defense of at least 100000
men.
That means some plan of general
military training. 1t means universal
training. We can have this without
sacrificing our ideals or giving ground
an inch on our institutions and our
traditions.
We must have military instruction
Tor al! young men at time and in a
way that will not interfere with their
work in life, but will the better pre-
pare them for that work. It is the
natural way. It is the economical way.
1t is the only way. ~ r
1t is democratic. It q is patriotic.
1t is common sense.
IT,