Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-29
FOR MILITARY TRAINING
IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Senator Chamberlain Advocates Re-
quirement by Federal and
State Governments.
IN CONFERENCE WITH WILSON
Chairman of Senate Committee on
Military Affairs Will Stay in Wash
ington to Prepare Bill for Intro
duCtion in Congress.
Especial TO The Times-Dispatch ]


WASHINGTON. October Ex-senator
Chamberlain. Of Oregon. chairman of
the Senate Committee on Military AZ
fairs. in conference with President
both Federal and State governments
requiring all colleges and schools that
receive public assistance to give MILL
tary training 10 their students He
training as essential for proper and
efficient service, if these men should
be called TO the colors.
Senator Chamberlain will remain in
between now and the convening of the
session 30 a study of,the military aues-
ton and the preparation of proper
bin for Introduction in the Senate
II consider the training of officers
for our volunteer army of the future
as the thing OF first Importance in the
consideration OF this question so vital
TO the nation" said Senator Chamber
lain. The mass OF enlisted men can
he raised with comparative ease. but
be had overnight.
ADVOCATES THOROUGH
MILITARY TRAINING
''I DO not believe in miiitarism. but
] 90 believe in thorough. military train
ing. and ] believe it should be COM
mcnccd down III the very primary
grades. II had my way, would place
in every public school Il primer on
mil
prepared by the War Department. and
instruction in line with the require
ments OF that primer made just as com
pulsory as reading, writing and arith-
mctic. This does not mean militarism
on the contrary. il means patriotism.
and teaching children in their youth
something of their duties as coming
citizens.
Il hope to sec Legislation by both
Federal and State governments that
VIII require every institution OF learn
ing that receives public aid TO include
as part of its curriculum military
training. Then, with the same CO.
operation between the State and Fed
eral governments as exists to-day be-
tween the Federal government and the
National Guard, we could work out a
program that would result in uni
formity and military efficiency.
IF this policy were followed. We
would turn out thousands each year
sufficiently trained to command COM
Danies and even battalionS. II we were
10 take either the Swiss, the Australian
or the New Zealand system and adapt
1t to our own country, we would take
Il great step towards efficiency. and
that, too. without establishing n large
standing army"
DISCUSSES WITH PRESIDENT
PROGRAM OF PREPAREDNESS
Senator Chamberlain talked for more
than half an hour with the President
about his program of preparedness,
with respect to the army. Mr.. Cham
beriain said he expected TO see a bill
that would increase the regular army
from the 100000 maximum strength Of
to-day to a total OF 100000 or $4,000
He called the attention to the fact that.
OF the regular army to-day. there was
in the United States n mobile army
OF only $4,000 men. The increase pro-
posed, he said. could not be considered
as dangerous by even the pacifsts.
Something must be done for the
State militia" said Senator Chamber
lain. Il have Il bill which, If adopted
by Congress. will provide small
monthly pay TO members of those or
ganiZations. II would measurably
compensate them for sacrifices of time
made in the interest of military ef-
ticiency. The National Guard must be
brought into closer touch with the war
establishment. and it must be provided
with more Federal assistance"