The Sauk Centre herald., 1915-12-16
HERALD PLAN INDORSED

OF NOV. 4tn, MI. Lucy Sdlu Ill pdrt'
when Napoleon overthrew
Prussia and utterly crushed her
in the battle of Jena, he imposed
on the kingdom the most humil-
iating terms of peace. One of the
conditions was that Prussia could
only maintain an army of 47,000
men, but the shrewd Prussians
enlisted these $4,000 men for one
year only, then supplanted them
with new and established military
training camps where the boys
under the term of 'Landwher'
were given military training. Ten
years later at Waterloo they had
the best trained army arrayed
against Napoleon, and his over
throw was due more to the fact
that he would not allow Prussia
to maintain a regular standing
army than to any other one thing.
"Why should not this govern
ment profit by this old time ex-
perience of the Prussians. In
crease the pay of our common
sailors and soldiers to a point
that would attract our young men
and enlist them for two years
only.
owe have three million high
school boys and on of the serious
problems of American parents is
what to do with them during va
cation. Why not establish mill
tary camps at various points in
the United States in charge of
competent officials for three
months each year and enlist these
high school boys in a 'Landwher,'
furnish them uniforms and equip
ment, pay them a moderate wage
and give them three months rigid
training every year. There is
nothing so beneficial to a man in
civil life as the military training
and the discipline of military life.
A good, well trained soldier or
sailor always makes good cit
izen capable of meeting and cop
ing with every emergency of life.
IF this procedure were follow
ed, the problem of what to do
with our boys in vacation time
would be solved and in a few
years we would have the finest
trained army in the world ready
to take the field at a moments
notice. A standing army idly un-
occupied, feeding on the sub
stance of the people is a handi-
cap to any nation; standing
army of trained men working in
shops, behind counters, on farms,
practicing professions, and build
ing up communities in which they
reside is the greatest asset any
country can possess"
Following out the line of hough
by Mr.. Eddy, Representative
idney Anderson of the First Mime
ota district will introduce bill pro
iding for military training of higl
chool students. The National Schoo
amp Association has been formed
nd are ready to back Mr.. Andersen
4 his proposed legislation. Speakinf
his measure the Minnesota repre-
entative said:
"There are 100000 young men
who could be trained every sum-
mer during their high school
course who would form the Sec
ond line of defense for the Unit
ed States in time of war;" said
Mr.. Anderson. "They could put in
practically all their vacation time
in camps established by the feder-
al government and at the end of
three years would have as much
military training as Secretary
Garrison proposes to give them in
the continental aru4v.
"Not only would this be good
thing for the country, but it
would be good for the young men
physically mentally and morally.
They would learn the value of
discipline. They would have bet
er health as they would be taught
how to care for themselves. The
training would have a wholesome
effect upon them morally, as
many of the young men are idle
during the entire vacation period
and acquire bad habits.
81 shall introduce a bill for the
establishment of student training
camps early in the session. l
have had some figures prepared
by experts, and I am told that the
entire cost of equipping the men
and maintaining the camps would
not exceed $25,OO0,o00 a year.
Secretary Garrison estimates that
the continental army would cost
upward Of $50,000,000 and the
adoption Of my plan will save
half that amount. Besides, do
not believe enough of the right
kind of men will volunteer for
the continental army"
In explaining School Camp ide'
frederick L. Long of New York, exc
utive head of the association, says:
"Our association has been or
ganized for the purpose Of Civ
ing military training to school
bows of the higher grammar