Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-18
Volunteer Plan a Failure.
Says Chief of Army Staff.
Urging Universal Training

Maj Gen. Scott. chief OF staff of the
;lEJny, told the committee that the army
general staff recommended without
apology that the volunteer system be
discarded because the time has come
when this country, unless it intends
TO avoid war at any cost, must resort
TO universal liability to military train
ing and service"
Arraigning the volunteer system as
extravagant, inefficient and dangerous.
the chief of staff told the committee
that universal training would be dem
ocratic. reliable. efficient and eco
nomical, and within a few years prac-
licalIy render the United States i'm
,nune from attack
TT would be Democratic" ae said,
because the burden of national de-
fense would fall equally upon all cit
izens. 1t would make ii impossible for
any man or group of men to trade upon
the nations necessities in time of war.
The system would be reliable because
IT would produce each year the number
of men necessary to be trained 1t
would be economical because it would
be based upon recognition by the peo-
pie of the duty of the individual to
render personal service. and in carry
ing it into effect the government would
not have to compete in the labor mar
ket. 1t would be efficient because it
would enable us to prepare adequate
fy for ar before war comes
Failed in Mexican Crisis.
At the outset Cen Scott pointed out
that the Mexican crisis had failed to
recruit many National Guard orsani-
cations even to their minimum peace
strength.
The failure should make the whole
people realize that the volunteer sys-
tenn does not and probably will not
give US either the men need in
peace or for service in war" said he.
Reviewing the intensive training
require. he declared that if Amer
lean troops ever were to compete
with highly trained and splendid
ly disciplined forces they would require
training and discipline at least equal
TO that of their opponents.
The lessons of the European war, the
general said. had demonstrated that a
higher standard of training and disci-
Diine were required than was popu-
larry considered necessary before, and
thar most of the European nations for
that reason found they could not de-
relop them in less than two years with
the colors-
Il; should be obvious said he, tina
l92 hours training prescribed for the
National Guard is utterly Inadequate to
prepare this force for war service"
100000 Men for War.
For war with Il first-class power the
general staff had previously estimated
that 500. 06o fully equipped troops should
be ready at the outbreak and that 500
100 more should be available in ninety
days In view of the lessons of the war
the general was now Of the opinion that
these numbers should he tripled. and tina
SOC, o,0oG fully equipped and ready troops
should 70. available, with another 1,Jg0,
200 to foilow in ninety days.
This is due said he, TO the fact
that one Of the powers involved In thT
war, and whose territory extends the
whole length OF our northern frontier
has increased it's army from a relative.
ly small force to "a strength approx
imating that of the other great Euro
pean powers. Due to the fact that oul
northern neighbor is largely an islant
empire. great portion of any trained
force IL may possess can be spared fol
use in d distant theater of operations
because. being an island empire, th'
control of the sea gives ii practical i'm
mGnity from Invasion where troop:
the sea
Has Ally in Orient
at should be pointed out also tina
our northern neighbog is in allianc,
with d powerful oriental nation-an
other island empire-and for the sam
reason when acting in alliance with :
power which has control of the sea
las ability to send its army of 2.225, 90
men to any part of the world withou
danger of invasion.
II think a mere statement Of fhes
facts makes 1t clear that at present W
are practically defcnseless before tn
veteran armies Of our northern neigh
oor and could easily be crushed by tn
existing coalition OF the island empire.
II have said enough, by way of II
fJstration only, 10 make IL clear fha
u we are menaced by one of thes
powers alone. having lost control of th
sea. We should need more troops 70
defensive purposes than have entere
tuto the popular conception of our mill
.ary problems heretofore.
"A factor which has in the past playe
a part in protecting US from recent ag
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