The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-12-18

Over what the United States
should do in the matter of prepared
ness there is bound to be vide
divergence of views and at Washing
ton the political campaign OF next
wear will interfere with the question
being considered wholly on its mer-
its. The advocates of larger stand
ing army supplemented by great
increase in militia forces are sustain
ed by President Wilson and the war
department, but it would seem that
they have failed to consider dill
Guilty that renders the plan not
feasible. This difficulty is the dis
like of men of ambition for army ser
vice in time of peace. Ii war comes,
or even remotely threatens, men VIII
flock to the colors by the million in
this country but during long periods
of peace the life of soldier is one of
rather monotonous routine, and for
the private soldier in large army
the chance for advancement is prac-
tically nothing. A young man OF
spirit, energy and desire TO succeed
chafes under life of this kind and
gets out of it as soon as possible.
| The militia feels the effect of the
same tendency. 1t grows harder
from year to year to keep up the
standard of militia, not because the
boys are less patriotic than their
! sires, but because, after a few years
of peace, war seems far away and
military service of little value and
Importance to the youth who have
lived only in time of peace. The on
" way to make sure of always hav-
ing an army of the standard and eff
cheney to safeguard every crisis, is to
provide for compulsory military ser
vice by every young man not physi-
cally incapable. Col Roosevelt
theory, in its main features, is not
only the best one, but the only one
that is feasible for the United States
It is also the most economical. If
men are to be coaXed into the army
or militia by offering them induce
ments, and comforts, and wages equal
to what they can get outside, not only
will the expense be tremendous ant
constantly growing, but there will be
endless dissatisfaction, weakness il
discipline, jealousy and politics par
ticularly among the militia. Compul
sorry service Is altogether more desir
able as we'll as more effective II
reaching the result desired. If ever.
young man on reaching the age o
eighteen or nineteen is obliged t
y enter the army for year of actua
service it becomes a patriotic dut
\ which only towards will try to shirB
. | A year of service in the army woult
! be a desirable physical training TO
J every man and would fit him to bel
ter endure the strain and burdens o
earning his living in later life.
\ year of army duty followed by tire
\ years in the first line of reserves an
! then five years in the second line
= with an occasional call for brief pc
= iods of duty-or some variation
y this basic plan-would give the Uni
y ed States trained men always read
" to fill the ranks of our army in tim
y of need. The theory that it woul
" make the nation unduly militaristic
N the reverse of the truth. We are IL
N more likely to be driven into war, {
N friction that leads to war, by the e
h cessive enthusiasm and unreasonir
demands of people ignorant of the a
of war, than we are of being carrie
off our feet by any sudden gust
national passion when every abb
bodied man in the country know
something of what military servi
means.