Evening star., 1915-06-15
DIFFER ON ADWSAB|uN
Of PLANNING FOR WAR
Carl vrooman and Gaylord N. Saltz-
gaber Voice Dramatically
Opposed Opinions.
Former Urges Military Training OF
Young men at Flag Day Exercises
of Woman's Relief Corps

voicins diametrically opposed opln-
ions as to the advisab bility of being
prepared against the contingency OF
war, Carl vrooman, assistant secre-
tary of agriculture, and Gaylord M.
Saltzeaber, ommissioner of pensions.
were the speakers at last nights OBJ
servation of Flag day. held under the
auspices Of the Department Of the
Potomac. woman's Relief Corps. at the
Church Of Our Father, Universalist.
In his address Assistant Secretary
Trooman urged that preparedness
against war was a national duty. de-
CIaring that such preparedness can be
attained only by adoption Of system
whereby the young men of the country
can be trained in the use of arms and
Injured to the hardships of camp and
campaign life Commissioner Salty
gaber. on the other hand, advocated as
"the best preparedness this country
could have the principles mothers
sreach their sons-honor. truth and
manhood"
Cites Security of the Swiss.
In his address Mr.. vrooman directed
attention to events following the out
break of the European conflict and to
of Luxembourg and the kingdom of
Belgium. These, he said, have been
overrun and devastated because they
were unprepared or only half pre-
pared. while Switzerland. by reason of
that republics military system, un-
der which every able-bodied man is a
trained soldier. has maintained effectu-
ally its neutrality and Independence.
''Luxemburg. totally unprepared. was
mouthful. he said; Belgium was
only half ready, but Switzerland is free
and a peace today, just because of her
splendid citizen soldiery. In France
and Germany they take three of the
hest years out of a mans life for mill
tary service. In Switzerland the serv-
ice is three months the first summer
and two weeks each succeeding one
In fact. the service is a pleasure and a
vacation
'All over this country we should have
such summer military camps for our
would flock to them? The few which
have been maintained have been crowd
ed. Let US have democratic, defensive
citizen army and be safe
Mr.. Vrooman's address should be
taken to heart" said Mr.. Saltzgaber,
but upon the matter of comparing
Switzerland and our own country 1
must differ with him. The Swiss are
surrounded by rapacious rulers while
next to US are our friends the Cana
dians. This years celebration of the
birth of the flag is rendered exultant
by the 100 years of peace between Can
ada and the United States, which 1t
also marks"
Could Raise Army Of 10000, 600.
IF We were involved in war, how
long would 1t take to make American
soldiers with great wave of patriot
ism sweeping the country; how long
would 1t take them to learn to shoot?
If men of the United States responded
to the call to arms as they did in Ohio
during the civil war we should put an
army Of 100000 in the fold. Any
foreign nation would think a long time
before bringing out that force"
Other speakers. all Of whom were in
troduced by Col. John McElroy, were
Mrs Ida Oldroyd, Mrs. Isabel worrelI
Ball and Mrs Mamie Dorsey Mary
Van Ness Fauth. patriotic instructor,
was in charge Of the ceremonies. The
invocation was delivered by Mrs. Au-
gusta Tasker, chaplain. A program Of
music and recitations was given. Troop
4. District Boy Scouts. acted as ushers