Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-09
COMPULSORY Military SelNicr

= ENERAL SCOTT'S report merely confirms
~ the unwclcome conviction already formed
III 'he MINDS OF those who have given thought
TO the great problem OF national defense
that the country's military system is in
adequate and ineffective and. under the exist
lhE laws. can never be made adequate or
effective Developments within the last few
months have established beyond question
that the plan provided hy the old laws as
amended by the army reorganization hills
Is faliure. All hope of real preparedness
for defense, based on a regular army OF en-
hSted men supplemented by Il Nution;A Guard
OF volunteers. has totally collapsed
Events have proved that belief in that sys-
TEN vas not justified. The standing rmy
has not been recruited to its authorized
strength, i'll spite of cXtraordnary efforts ON
the part OF the War Department. Al the
rhQ OF August, the regular establishment
was still nearly 10000 men short of it's re-
quired numbers. and il is even now thousands
below its authorized strength. less than : 900
having enlisted during September and De-
tobor. Nor is there any reason TO hone en-
hstmentS will increase. Work is too plenti-
tul and wages are too high 10 expect mon
10 forcSo their benefits in order To serve i'm
the army
There remains only the National
Guard AS to that, evidence from within is
plentiful that, ii the present laws continue
III force" II will be only short time before
there virtually will be no National Guard
from all quarters comes news OF the doplc-
uoh OF units, by designations and failure to
Te-rhllSt. Men who have done their bits and
other men who realize what the Federal
uuai-enlStment oath provides are hesitatinr
ana declining to bind themselves to six wears
service From Chicago ii is reported that OF
the 600 officers and men COMPOSING the
FIRST, Second and Third Illinois Infantry less
than 900 have re-cniistcd. Private adj
wees indicate like intention among the Of
Ncers ana men OF Virginia : quota; and that
Is the prevailing sentiment among tho men
who have faithfully and ably served lhoir
country.
Nor is the reason for this state OF mind
hard TO lind or hard 10 understand AS the
chiei OF stan OF the army puts it, There is
no reason why one womans son should go
out and defend, or be trained to defend an
o'her woman and her who refuses TO
take training or give service For one man
who is serving on the border to-day at great
sacrifice to himself and his family there are
thousands who are rendering no service II
is not TO be wondered at that the man on in.
border Is determined never To pul himself in
that position again
IL ism necessary to go into General SCOTS
detailed report the mobilization OF ,hr
National Guard. The units that have gone
to the front and all the men i'm them have
gwen their beSt--all honor to them, We
are confronted now by the necessity OF pro-
Nioins Tor the future. That necessity points
10 one course and only one-uniyorsal mill
tarE training. 70 be provided by compulsory
service The details require careful con
sideration b! the nations wisest men. bur
III" principle on which they must he based is
c!ear: citizenship in this country shall ncccs-
sariiE involve service with the coIors