Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-30
WAR CAUSES HOLLAND
TO ENLARGE ARMY AND
] PREPARE FOR FUTURE


correspondence Of Associated Press.
The Hague Netherlands, May TO-
An army Of 100000 men as Hollands
military strength in any future Euro
pean struggle Is the preparedness pro-
gram of the ''Volksweerbaarheid or
National Defense Association. which
enjoys state subsidy and had lao
branches and nearly $4,000 members.
Under this program every able
bodied man and woman would be en-
listed for the country's defense; there
would be universal service instead Of
the limited compulsory system which
now obtains. The association Is con-
WINGED that freedom and independ-
ence can be assured only when all who
are able, conscious Of their duty, pre-
pare themselves in service in the
country's defense forces. with a view,
in ease of necessity, to being able to
defend those most sacred possessions
of the nation
The concrete scheme Of the asso-
citation takes the form Of general COM
pulsory training with limited repetl-
ton training and service. and local and
provincial training and organization.
Starting out from the principle tina:
the basis of all defense must be the
forming of powerful race, the pro-
gram would provide physical exercise
in the schools, and subsequent pre-
paratory training Of the youth Of the
country. After this the time actually
spent in the ranks would be compare =
lively short, the association argues,
citing what has been seen In that re-
spect in the present war.
Only a few of the large levies thus
obtained would suffice to form the
field army. Thence the men would
pass out into the local troops"-ter-
ritorial defense forces. These latter
would be so organized that, together
with the strong localized frontier and
coast guards. they could be ready to
take the field in few hours.
While the local troops" would in
the first place, serve for defense, the
field army would be destined for often
sive operations. The two together
would form a force of about O00OO
men, fully trained, while there would
still be a reserve in the depots Of more
than 100000 men, making up the total
Of 100000 mentioned.
Summarized this new national army
would be constituted as follows:
Frontier and coastal troops, 1345oo
men; field army, 100000; position
troops, $500; marine, 5000; local
troops, 534, 800; total. 796,50O men.
Reserve: Local reserve. first ban,
100000; second ban, 100000 men; total,
$4,000 men.
With such an army, which is repre-
sented as quite feasible. the old axio-
matte principle of retiring behind the
famous Dutch water line might be
abandoned and positions taken up i'm
mediately behind the frontiers, the as
socia ton points out.
The basic idea of the program Is said
to enjoy wide sympathy and support,
and the plan Is expected to come up
for serious consideration in one form
or another when the present crisis is
past.
In talk with the correspondent Of
the Associated Press. the secretary of
the association laid special stress on
the fact that the women must also be
organized and trained to cooperate,
presumably largely In Red Cross work.
Apart from its propaganda activities,
the National Defense Association has
been instrumental in raising nearly
10000 volunteer Landsturm troops to
Reinforce the modified army.
Since its birth in 1899 the orga MIA
ton has provided extensive facilities
for rifle practice and the requirement
Of other military arts. furthered gym
nastic and athletic clubs, trained wom-
en- for Red Cross work, and founded
summer training camps.