Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-19
GENERAL STAFF URGES
UNIVERSAL MILITARY
SERVICE FOR AMERICA
Major General Scott Tells In
veStigating Committee I'm
quaIifiedIy That Volunteer
System Should Be Abolished
IRv Assoetssed Prsss.l

told the senate military committee to-
day that the army general stan. recon-
mended without apology that the volun-
teer system. be discarded because "the
time has come when this country. I'M
less il intends to avoid war at any cost,
must resort to universal liability to mill
itary training and service"
Termiug the volunteer system eXtrav-
sgant. inefficient and dangerous. the
chief of stan told the committee that
universal training would be democratic,
reliable. efficient and economical. and
within a few years practically would
render the United States immune from
attack
1t would be democratic" ne said,
because the burden Of national defense
would fall equally upon all citizens. 1t
would make il impossible for any man
or group of men TO trade upon the ma
TONS necessities in time of war. The
system would be reliable because it
would produce each year the number of
men necessary to be trained. Ii would
be economical because it would be based
upon recognition by the people of the
duty of the individual to render person
al service, and in carrying it into effect
the government would not have to COM
pete in the labor market. 1t would be
efficient because it would enable us to
prepare adequately for war before war
comes"
NEED 100000 MEN.
General Scott, disclosing much of
the army war college material hitherto
regarded as confidential. shows that the
army general staff now believes that in
stead OF 100000 available men, which is
considered sufficient as start TO de-
Gend the country against inyas-on, the
country should have 100000 fully
trained men at the beginning OF a FAR
with a like number ready to follow in
ninety days The change is based on
the development OF the British army,
the organization of great Canadian
forces and the British alliance with
JaFan-
With such force available, the army
general STAFF. General Scott said, con-
siders the United States practically inn
mune from such an attack as military
strategists believe might be expected
from the, victorious set OF powers in the
European war.
General Scott pointed out that the
Mexican crisis had failed to recruit many
national guard QEEduALdlAuAlS. even ~
their minimum peace strength
WILL NOT SUFFICE.
The failure should make the whole
people realize that the volunteer system
does not and probably will mot give us
either the men we need in peace OF for
service i'm war" said he He declared
that il American troops ever were to
compete with highly trained and splen-
didIy disciplined forces they would re-
guire training aud discipline 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-
pIine were required than was popularity
considered necessary before, and that
most of the European nations for that
reason found they could not develop
them in less than two years with the
cOlOrs-
1t should he obvious said he, that
50 hours training prescribed for the ma
tional guard is utterly inadequate to pre-
pare this force for war service"
For war with a fiTstclass power the
general stan had previously estimated
that SOC. 900 fully equipped troops should
be ready at the outbreak with 50O,O0U
more available in ninety days The gen.
eraI was now OF the opinion that $780,
zoe fully equipped and ready troops
-A0AAu DO aNaAAduAN win AAANNAANA Low
UOO to follow in ninety days.
PRACTICALLY DEFENSELESS.
This il due" said he. Ito the fact
that one OF the powers involved in the
war. and whose territory extends the
whole length of our northern frontier,
has increased it's army from a relative
small force to q strength approximating
that Of the other great European powers
Due to the fact that our northern neigh
Nsr- Is island a
portion of any trained force IL may
possess can be spared for use in dis
tant theater Of operations because, be-
ing an island empire, the control of the
sea gives il practical immunity from
invasion where troops would have to be
transported across the sea
ut should be pointed out also that
our northern neighbor is in alliance
with a powerful Oriental natiOn-an-
other island empire-and for the same
reason when acting in alliance with a
power which has control Of the sea, has
ability TO send its army of 2.225,OOO
men to any part of the world without
danger of invasion
Il think a mere statement of these
facts makes Il clear that at present we
are practically defenseless before the
veteran armies of our northern neigh
Dor and could easily be crushed by the
existing coalition OF the island empires"
FISHER OPPOSES BILL
Walter l.. Fisher. OF Chicago
.crluer secretary Of interior. who
stood first on the committees list OF
witnesses. was opposed to the measure
On the ground that the system would
--7pose an unnecessary burden and would
rot furnish civic training. He recon-
rnended instead that the army be reor-
ganized 10 give greater individual bene-
rs to soldiers
NJ. Fisher had prepared statement
r.. which he said:
Universal military services would
undoubtedly distribute the military bur
den. but il would create the burden for
the sake of distributing il. II is not
Sinking to oppose the imposition Upor
cur people OF a burden which is unnec-
sary and unwiSe. II we organize our
regular army and militia service SO
hat every man who went into il came
ut better OF than he was before, Justify
itself
II i expected representatives of the
woman's peace party. American Union
Against MilitariSm. Farmers union, Ma
tional Grange and American Federation
of Labor also will be heard in opposi
tion to the measure.