The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-07
MAJ-GEN. WOOD ENDORSES CAMP
 AT PLATTSBURG
Former Army Head Says All Who Attend Will Be
 Benefited.

In a letter urging cooperation with the military training camp which is to be held at Plattsburg, N. Y., sur<- mer and for which the 25 Connecticut men who attended last summer have created a scholarship for a high school boy, Leonard Wood, major general United States army, has writ ten the following endorsement:
 Applicants are desired principally from those who have had college, university, high school Cor correspond ing schooD education. Non-graduates are not excluded but each case will be decided on it's merits with a view to maintaining a level in the progressive scheme of development. The training given at these camps is very intensive, covering in a period of four weeks much as possible of the fundamental education of an officer. This calls for a well trained mind. In the second place, past experience has shown that this class of young men is the first to join the co1ors Sin time of war and many of them regardless of their skill in military matters receive commits sions. This has been the procedure in times past. It is right and neces- sary that these young men should be fully informed as to the tremendous responsibility which will come to them with the command of men and the irreparable loss which may be caused by uns<ilIed leadership.
 Furthermore, as citizens of mili- tary age and as members of the unor ganized militia under the constitution, it is necessary for the intelligent dis charge of their military obligations that they should be as well informed as possible on these matters. The president has said in a, recent message Tt will be right enough, right American policy, based upon our ac- customed principles and practices, to provide a system by which every citi- zen who will volunteer for the train ing may be made familiar with the use of modern arms, the rudiments of drill and nanedver, and the mainten- ance and sanitation of camps. We should encourage such training and make it a. rpeans of discipline which ouriyoung men will learn to value. '
 ''At these camps great stress is laid upon personal hygiene and camp san itation and a serious effort is made to teach men how to take care of themselves in camp and at maneuvers as we'll as tosfami1iarize them with the use of arms. The conduct of the camps tends to establish habits of promptness and exactness, and to the careful observance and prompt execu- ton of instructions. A serious effort is made through lectures to convey a sound and correct idea of the military policy of the nited States as exempli- HIed Dy our past wars, anu pdrL4CuIaE attention is given to the general sub ject of military history
 secondary to these more serious purposes of the camp, there is to be considered the physical benefit of a healthy, out-of- doors life, vigorous eS- ercise, discipline. good food and as scciation with a fine lot of men front every section of the country with whom, as past experience shows, a very intimate bond is formed based on hard work in camp end maneuvers and the consciousness of serving a good cause.
 tsFor these reasons national states men and legislators, famous lawyers. great bankers and merchants, and
 many high state and city officials have stood elbow to elbow in the ranks, at such camps, with men who labor for a daily wage, and both are proud of it. The whole effect of the camps has been excellent both from the standpoint of increasing the sense of each mans responsibility to the nation for service and his obligation to fit himself to render it effectively and eff ficiently. I believe all men who have attended these camps have left them better physically and morally, and with a higher and better conception of their duty as citizens.
 ''Attendance at the camp will not increase either the legal or moral obli- gation of those who attend. The in- tention is merely to equip those talk ing the course of training to fulfill with more efficiency and usefulness obligations which are already laid -up- on them as citizens of the United 1 States