Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-10

'I heartily sympathizo with the present
movement to enlarge our army and navy"
said Walter Clark, president of the
Franklin Institute, today, but most of
the proposals hear do not go far enough.
No volunteer system will meet the world
Wide emergency we are facing.
II advocate universal military serv-
ice. Every able-bodied citizen should be
ready to bear arms. Upon what grounds
would we base exemption were we ac-
tually in the situation that faces every
European country today? What right
have we to count on escaping such a
situation?
.Universal service means a military
training in all the public schools. Every
boy in the land, irrespective of race or
religion-Cathollc, Jew or Protestant
should receive such training. lie should
know how to use arms, undergo hard
ships and obey orders. In time of war
there would be no distinction between the
rich and poor; there ought not to be in
actual preparedness
Most of the school boys in the country
would be better off if they would spend
part OF the long vacation in military
training. BY the time they were is, ready
for line Of battle, they ought to be fa-
miliar with the manual of arms. For city
boys there are ample opportunities for
field drill and camplfe at points like Fair
mount Park.
Where would Frame be today if every
man had not been ready when the Ger
man drive came In Aupust, 1914? They
spranS to arms as one man. Otherwise,
they would have been wiped from the
map. Paris would have fallen in less than
a week. There was no time to train
marksmen or drill regiments on the eve
OF battle.
"our coast today would present less
difficulties to n trained invading force
than Belgium or France did. There are
several nations that could have 100000
men ready to land here in a week. At
the present time l understand we have
just 1000 men-two cavalry and two in
fantry regiments of the regular army
ready for immediate action east of the
Mississippi River. Militia or volunteer
troops could not hold back a disciplined
enemy. Only line-of-battle men could pro-
Iect our women and children from a force
that would have about as much mercy
as the submarines showed them Where
could We get line OF battle today?
while these facts are now familiar,
what are we, as citizens, doing about 1t?
Oners of generous individuals will not
make us ready There must be legal
fzed. universal plan worked out that will
take care both of the present and future.
We cannot keep our liberties, much less
our prosperity. if we are not willing to
ight for them.
while the Presidents speeches did
good. Congress has not yet woke up.
Members of Congress should be made to
feel that evasion or delay in meeting this
issue will not bo unpunished. Let those
who see the danger keep urging action
until both the navy and the reserve army
are made sufficient and effective. We
must have them both and without further
delay. Half-hearted preparation Is as
bad as none.
II also advocate a Bureau of Munitions,
to be provided for in the present Con-
gress. Our existing plants are under
heavy contracts and we do not know how
far the drain will go. 1t Is a case of
safety first. Not only the shells and can
non, but the actual firearms for a real
army must be carefully provided. This
cannot be done in a day or a month We
might easily be found to be saving others
and unable to save ourselves. Unless our
ordnance and equipment measures are put
on q scientific basis in the near future,
under competent experts, We shall not |
oniy be unprepared, but likely 10 repeat
the scandals of other wars"
Mr. Clark's emphatic views, urging con-
gressional action in the immediate future
upon adequate lines, met with strong ap- |
proval from Arthur +. Newbold, OF DreXel |
3 Co.. General Theodore Il. Wiedersheim. |
John Gribbel, president of the Union |
Leagnei William D. Grange. c. Stuart |
Patterson and others active in financial |
and commercial affairs.
Ia expressing approval of the increase |
n the number OF Naval Academy stu |
tents Joseph b. Thomas, of 80 North 9th |
street, commented upon the small number /
u trained army officers in this country of |
he type possessed by Germany and /
France
"rhis was one of England's great |
leeds. ne said, "and we are much worse
N. While Strengthening and expanding
Vest Point, more attention should be
ilFen 10 the private military academies
nd the officers schools, where men may
le disciplined for command A large
rny without well-equipped commanders
) little better than mob. as has been
reanently shown"