Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-29

regular courses of the schools The first
years OF training should consist of drills
and exercises to strengthen and develop the
body, making the pupil more efficient In
dividual, able to respond promptly to or
dors. At least an hour each day to be
devoted to this work. Parents will soon
sec that 1t Is better to spend this additional
money to keep their children healthy and
strong, rather than care for them when
they are ILL., and that training under COM
petent instructors would be very desirable
1t should be compulsory for every male
in this country according to regulated
system, to go into military camps for one
month each year, preferably in the spring
time. They should be fully trained in the
fundamentals of military requirements, and
also in the manner Of protecting themselves
against disease. The Government should
compensate them for their time and serv-
Ice, and guarantee that their positions in
life would be protected. and that no en-
ployer dismiss any one for this cause.
And now, supposing that we had this
well-trained and disciplined army, the ques-
tion arises as TO how they are armed and
provisioned, and what precautions have been
made for emergencies. There should be at
the disposal of every man at least two guns
and enough ammunition to last a suitable
time. So the Government should build,
equip, operate and manufacture her own
guns and ammunition, opening the way for
their speedy and hasty manufacture. Also
devise and construct an efficient means of
transportation to carry war materials easily
to where they are needed.
We are located magnhcently for de-
fensiYe purposes, and we should be able to
augment this advantage which has been
given us. Our fleet should be second to
none. Not until the Civil War had been
going on for two years did the North appre-
ciate the fact that what had prevented the
South from winning decisive victory was
the strict blockade proclaimed and control
of the sea carried on by the North. Prior
to this the South had been steadily win
ming, although the Union States had vastly
superior resources of men and money. The
Allies no doubt expect to win the war
on this account.
There is need for urgent haste. Our navy
should have plenty of dreadnoughts prop
erly balanced with submarines, fast cruisers
and modern aeroplanes to patrol and guard |
our coast making our shores very un- |
inviting mark for those that would aim to
strike us. A large merchant marine should |
be encouraged and fostered by the Govern |
ment. so that In addition to making us a |
great commercial nation we would also have |
plenty of transports and auxiliaries for milf |
tary use Seaboard States should be fur |
nished with training ships for the purpose |
of training men for the merchant marine |
thereby creating splendid naval reserve |
of men fitted for this work Men should |
have the privilege of either training with |
the army or spending a cruise in the navy |
with good pay
So long as human nature Is what II is, |
and so long as we need the protection of the |
police force, then so long shall we need to |
he ready against those that think that
might is right
SAMUEL LIVINGSTON,
Yeoman, third class, U. S. s. North Dakota
Philadelphia, July 27.