New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-17

To tn. Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Less than two years ago any sugges-
ton OF universal military training in the
United States would have been regarded by
most of us as evidence Of mild insanity.
Then out OF clear sky came the out
break OF war in Europe and the invasion of
Belgium, and all our preconceived notions Of
the permanency OF international good fellow
ship and the safety Of any peace loving peo-
pie fell to the ground with a crash. We
are beginning to realize that America II
invaded by any first class power could offer
less effective resistance than did Belgium TO
the hosts of the German Empire.
Here, then, is our problem: Hating war
as the embodiment OF almost all that is evil
here below. yet seeing the possibility Of its
falling suddenly upon US as upon others,
how shall we prepare for it-that is TO say,
against it,
Our present condition Of utter defenceless-
ness requires no comment It is fact
which cannot be disputed. When we con-
slider that there are five nations, each with
enough ships to land from 10000 to 3s5,000
veterans upon our shores in a period of be-
tween two and three weeks after declara-
ton of war, the necessity of a stronger feet
as our frst line of defence, and OF a standing
army of more than our present 10000 mobile
regular troops available to meet the first
shock OF invasion becomes self-evident.
What is the solution? Scarcely the mill
tia, which in several states exists largely
on paper, in too many others is closely allied
with politics, and with several notable ex-
ceptions is not really efficient Assuredly we
cannot solve the problem with unframed vol
unteers. The utter unreliability of such
body called hastily together to face sud
den and overwhelming emergency cannot be
questioned. Unframed men are menace to
themselves, and if placed alongside trained
troops are equally a menace to them and to
the cause for which they are fighting.
A huge permanent military establishment,
similar in character TO those existing on the
continent Of Europe at the outbreak of the
present war, would undoubtedly make for
military strength, but is remedy which
most of US would reject as worse than the
disease. As we prefer that our government
remain a republic. notwithstanding its ten
dency toward ineficiency, so we prefer that
the safety of this nation rest with its citi
zens, in spite Of the hazard involved.
The little republic of Switzerland, although
her system might not fit US without some
modification, furnishes a splendid precedent
Germany might have struck France through
Switzerland rather than through Belgium, but
something more formidable than the Alps
deferred her-a nation trained in arms from
its youth up.
definition. Advocacy of appropriate training
does not mean giving youngsters Of eight or
ten Nspoleon's campaigns 10 read any more
than it would involve beginning their math
ematics with table of logarithms. Both the
Swiss and Australian systems begin with
simple things and develop gradually. Such
also was the method of procedure which sue
ceeded so admirably with those American
children of maturer years who met last sum
mer at Plattsburg. Perhaps 80 per cent of
the men who attended the so-called business
mems camps were wholly ignorant of the sub
ect they had come to study, and the teach
ers. regular army officers, were wise enough
TO begin slowly. In consequence. Plattsburg
was very excellent and successful primary
school
The training of boys OF from ten to four
teen might properly be restricted almost
wholly TO caisthenics and other activities
looking to physical betterment. In this out
of-door work and simple exercises should be
preferred to gymnasium apparatus and gym
nastic stunts" The aim should be first Of
all disciplinary. As to the physical aspects,
the idea is not to develop few special mus
cles or TO train the subject for exhibition
purposes, but rather to bring about a gen
orally robust physique sound heart and
lungs. reasonably muscular arms and legs.