The Washington herald., 1916-12-31
Army and Navy News

Without further act of Congress, all
apie-oodied male citizens in the United
states between Is and IS are held liable
for service In the National Guard. un-
DER war Department regulations issued
under the national defense act.
The President is empowered to draft
men for reserve battalions from the Ma
tional Guard reserves and those appear
ing by voluntary enlistment. The reserve
battalion is directed to be organized
where National Guard regiment has
been called to the front, and recruits
to keep its ranks filled are to be desig-
mated from II.
The circular prepared by the Military
Bureau reads: "If for any reason there
shall not be enough reservists or enough
voluntary enlistments to organize or to
keep the reserve battalions at prescribed
strength, sufficient number of the un-
organized militia shall be drafted by the
President to maintain such battalion or
other lesser reserve unit at the pre-
scribed strength"
The term "unorganized militia" Is de-
fined in the national defense act as
meaning every ble-bodied male citizen
within the prescribed age limit and those
who have declared their intention to be-
come citizens. The present circular is
modelled closely upon the language Of
the national defense act
The problem Of dependent families,
which in the recent border mobilization
cost the government several million dol
lars. is also considered in the National
Guard regulations and will be enlarged
upon later In greater detail. Married
men and others having families dependent
upon them will be discouraged from en-
listing by directions to that effect issued
to recruiting officers.
Capt. E. z. Steever, U. S. A, has been
detailed by the War Department to in
troduce a Federal system of military
training in the public high schools of
large cities. Capt. Steever will proceed
at once to Chicago to place in operation
special military courses, and after com
pleting his work there he will proceed
70 Kansas City. Capt. Steever. who will
be assisted by q stan of minor officers.
will confer with school boards of other
cities of the Middle West relative to the
adoption of the plan.
Capt. Steever Is the originator of the
Wyoming plan" Of military instruction
in public schools. The plan contemplates
the adoption of elective rather than com
pulsory courses in military art for pupils
Chicago is the largest city in the coun-
try to adopt the plan, and it will be
.
three schools there.
Senator Chamberlain. chairman Of the
Senate Military Affairs Committee, has
received from Lyman Abbott editor OF
the Outlook. a letter indorsing the pro-
posed law for universal military train
ing. The letter in part follows:
IF universal military training would
interfere with the pacific pursuits of
the American people, that objection
might conceivably Justify our resorting
to the militia of the States, which rs
organized for a totally different purpose
But. in fact. universal military training
properly organized would promote the
pacific pursuits of the American people
1t would develop a habit of prompt
obedience to law.
sit would develop the team spirit, the
habit of cooperation for a common pur-
pose.
1t would break down class barriers
and put the employer and the employed
rich and poor. on the same level, en-
gagged in the same undertaking. 1t would
thus greatly promote the democratic
spirit.
1T would promote a spirit OF real
patriotism-a patriotism which recognizes
the truth that the people owe something
ernment something to the people:
patriotism that would express itself, not
in hearing orations and waving flags and
firing fireCrackers. but in real practical
and self-denying service"