The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-18
NLATTSBURG, n. Y. is in a fair
- way to go down in history as
the birthplace of the movement I

way TO go down in history as
the birthplace of the movement
that brought Americans 10 an
effective realization OF the military
unpreparedness Of the country. This
3 predicting a great deal. no doubt.
because organizations are multiplying
that are bent upon creating a public
sentiment in favor II an ample navy
and a military reserve big enough to
cope with any possible invader. But
Il 10 deeds that count and the mill.
Ary training camp at Plattsburg is To
b q place Of deeds.
I'VE mean to do something. We
intend that every section of these
United States shall be aroused and
that every man that has a drop of
red blood in him. shall have n chance
TO prove his readiness to help the ma
ton to uphold its dignity IL force Of
Arms be needful.
I'VE don't intend to talk. There
has been enough of that. 1t is our
purpose to get ready and tn fit our
selves TO help to lead the citizen SOL
diery that may a " to serve"
In this fashion n member Of the en-
folment committee Of the military
training amp for business and pro-
~fess!onal men explained the pun pose
Of this latest patriotic movement.
The undergraduate military training
camps are now in their third year..
and most people are reasonably IA
mlliar with their purpose and what
they have already accomplished.
Therefore, the question may be asked
why this separate organization has
bean called into ce'ng. Ger. L=ondrl
Wood has recently answered this
question in The following ann
IN view If the fact that many m,r
Of the type and general qualifications
but somewhat older than the average
Of the men who have heretofore at
tended college camps. are expressing n
desire to receive similar instruction,
and as the prospects are that we shall.
have over six hundred at Plattsburg.
I feel that II would be better policy TO
establish a separate camp, immsd iately
following the first and extending to
September 6.
Il am delighted to find so much in
terest In these instruction camps and
10 note the constantly increasing num-
Der OF men who are coming to them.
The movement Ia an excellent one and
has received the strongest Endorsement
OF the President and the War Depart
ment and the various university pres
dents. and is one which has my W
most earnest support and Approval
Addressing the Harvard Club n
short while < Gen. Wood reminded
those present of a conversation he had
q few years x with the late Field
Marshal Lord Roberts, whom he had
met on the continent of Europe. where
both had gone at the invitation
OF tho Kaiser to witness. h grand
manGuvres Of the German army.
Lord Roberts pointed out the need or
Q big and flexible organization OF
citizen soldiers and protested that the
Gay was coming when England would
prely need such a qualified force to
draw upon. II IL well known that
Lord Roberts's project was ridiculed.
He was called little short Of an
agitator.
Gen. Wood realized the wisdom OF
Lord Roberts's views. and he has not
hesitated to say that we are likely to
md ourselves in the same predica-
ment as England II we fail to look
shead and make ready.
That particular address at the Har-
ward Club has an interesting back
ssonnd, for 1t grew out Of the after
oinner chat OF a few men. some OF
them college graduates and Others
men OF business who had not had
college training. One of the party was
IN Italy Just before war was declared
last year and he related an experience
ne had there.
ny nance he wal thrown with a
cosmopolitan group representing a
number OF widely scattered nations.
me conversation naturally turned to
.e growing danger of n In the
srohp was a typically urbane Jap
ahese' Just as he might have referred
70 INC charms OF the day he smilingly
remarked:
The United States IL pretty nearly
az enough for killing" and through
Ms shining teeth he drew his breath
wan that sibilant sound so character
@uc " the Orient.
ihe American present was n man
VI via" reading and he had CLEANED u
Sood deal from many sources about
'von and the methods Of the natives