The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-07
A CONSUMPTION PLAN.
One Years Training for Young Men
Of Nineteen Proposed.

OF Nineteen PROPOSED.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: In
considering our present military condl-
ton a few facts stand out prominently.
A large majority of men most conpe-
tent to Judge believe that we should, as
soon as possible, largely Increase our
army. This IL with no thought OF
militarlsm, but simply for our own
safety, in view OF the grave compiled.
lions already arising between us and
other nations. A large standing army
Is foreign to our national ideals. and
will not be considered by either Con-
gress or the people. All attempts to
supply the required additional men
through the National Guard have
failed, and from the nature of It's or
ganization will always fail. II fills
an important place: many officers may
be drawn from 1t. but In no way can
it supply the force which we now so
urgently need.
We are forced then 70 the conclu-
sion that our main reliance must De
upon citizen soldiery. and the problem
simply is, how can We most quickly Sc
cure an efficient army of citizen SOL
diers with the least hardship TO the
men and at the least expense.
Among the many plans. that pro-
posed by the Administration is disap-
pointing because it Is inefficient. II
does not clearly state how tho men are
to he obtained. and you cannot make
soldiers At for modern war by only
two months training in a year. ASK
any officer OF any army In the world.
England has learned that lesson. but
the experience was heart breaking.
There Is much talk of the Swiss and
the Australian system, both excellent.
but not adapted to this country. be-
cause the Federal Government does not
and cannot control the public schools.
whith is essential to both systems. An
other point barring them from present
consideration is the element OF time.
Both require years to produce tangible
results. 1t Is Just possible that a ma
ton with which We might have trouble
would not be polite enough TO wait five
or six years for US to get ready. the
same reasoning applies to the bill pro-
posed by Senator Chamberlain, excel
lent though IL is.
In solving the problem I would ad-
vuaate the following plan. which Is
nearly on the same lines as that given
In the admirable report Just published
by the Army League ! would divide
the country into military districts
either by states or bv Federal divi-
sions. arbitrarily. i'cording to popula-
ton. Enroll every male citizen at the
age - nineteen in each year, and call
upon each section. pro rata. fur the
number OF men required, taxing them
from this nineteen year old class II
other than volunteers are needed. IL
Is estimated that nearly 100000 youuS
men now annually reach his aee. We
can hardly equip. house and offcer
more than $50. 600 during the first year.
80 let that be our maximum to begin
with. Exempt every one not PHYSICALLY
and mentally competent, also every
one having others dependent upon him
| would refuse to accept any one OF
VIGOROUSLY bad character o. who had
been convicted Of crime. Then allow
thirty days for volunteering and accept
volunteers up to the age of twenty-five
or even thirty years, After that time
has elapsed draft. by lot, from those
remaining IN the nineteen year old
class the number required to make up
the quota. GIVE these non a solid year
# training under the best possible con-
. u d.t.Ous. and then send them back into
,lv!l lie "itn the definite assurance
that excepting for a few DAYS with
the colors yearly for a short term II
years they would not be disturbed un-
less there was actual war They should
not lie called upon for strike duty
or any service Of that nature. When
these were re'.rel the next cont nSent
would he taken NJ In the same manner
THIS would give H. a definite number
~ thoroughly trained citizen soldiers
IN the shortest possible time, and the
plan is so simple that X would readily
be enlarged. or diminished or sus-
pended as occasion might require l.
should hc made Thoroughly democratic
by having tue service rendered by every
man IN person. There should 10" no
hiring 90 substitutes, ard | believe
that after tho plan was well understood
only a relatively small number would
uc,'i 20 be- drafted During his wear
should hc IN favor Of SivinE only
nominal pay. | would make service
,n ,hi, army So honorable that to hs
expelled from it would 80 a social dis.
grace difficult to live down, | ar
satisfied that tho majority ~ youue
men could better afford to give a year
out ana ont than to be called upor
for two or three months during sew
orsl consecutive years. while theii
value as soldiers would he improved
> beyond computation.
! am quite aware tn the slightes'
hint at Conscr.ption in any form ha'
been considered az a sort Of buCaho,
that must not be even mentioned, hu
l | am sure that public opinion is ranldll
, changing and that we are every dan
J rom.UG nearer To some form ~ mill
! tary training for our young men. |
: = not q new thing for US. II was al
accepted principle in the early days O
l the republic that every man owed mill
tary service to the state. and the ycarIy
? muster was taken rs a matter of course
r With the per!ls now before Ms ! nrml'
Il believe that the country would approx,
' to-day Of such measures as are needle,
, 10 put us in a position OF safety,
= believe also that this method Of train
ing would benefit the men themselves
, would promote tho respect due to tn,
flag and the uniform. and would I'm
, prove, not "A little. our self respect n
n nation. g. W. MURpoCK. NJ. D..
|, Late Assistant Surgeon Fifteenth Mich
= San Volunteer Infantry.
S~CARsDALE, February Z.