The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-07-03

We cannot hope BY camp sys-
tenn OF volunteers 10 develop
trained citizen army. We can nope
10 educate enough citizens IN the
duties Of real soldiers 10 learen
the dense ignorance which char
- acterizeS our people, and through
them TO inspire broader inter-
est. and greater intelligence IN
matters of national defense. II
this result is attained, sooner or
later we shall see our military sys-
tenn placed on sound and econ
omical basis.
e.. Six years ago when General
Wood, then Chief of Staff. initial
ed the idea Of establishing camps
of instruction for undergraduates
hut little interest was excited.
Camps were established. but il
was only after these began 10 al
tract general attention. A real
impetus was given at Il small din.
ner in New York at which were
assembled half a dozen citizens
who had been in Europe at the
beginning Of the great war, and
who returned dumbfounded AT
what they had seen abroad and
thoroughly impressed with the fact
thai our own enormous but unor-
panized resources constituted no
practical asset in event Of war.
One of these gentlemen stated
that the time for talk had passed
and that some action was neces-
sary:. he suggested that they
mighttask General Wood TO es-
tahlishi n camp for older men SINH
lar roNthose which had thereto.
fore been limited 10 students. The
request was made and granted.
The camp was established. so
large was the number Of applica-
tions that an additional camp had
10 be authorized 10 accommodate
tho overflow. And the appica-
tinns came from all classes. Mil
lionaires and clerks. eX-amhassa'
doris and policemen. shared me
same tents and performed. the
same duties. 1t was the most
democratic assemblaCe this coun-
try had ever witnessed.
Plattsburc became better known
than many cities Of ten times lis
size There was some criticism.
Part of the Militia slurred The
movement, and some officers OF
the Regular Army felt that IL was
unwise To let the idea get abroad
that soldier could be trained in
q month. But these were mis-.
taken ideas. If there was one
thing that every PlattsburS man
learned il was that there was
more in the soldier game than
he nad dreamed Of. Every one OF
them game away convinced that
a material increase In our hegu-
lar Army was a vital necessity
and that change in our whole
system Of national defense was
equally so.
Many Of those who attended
the Business and Professional
Mems Camp were too old for
effective. service in the ranks or
even subalterns. This. too,
their experience showed them.
But they learned that the fight
ing line is only the beginning OF
preparedness and the duties OF
it's members only small por-
ton of those which must be effici-
emily performed if wars are 10
be won. They came away fired
with an enthusiasm. which has
been reflected in practically every
step taken by Congress this year,
as we'll as every movement look.
ing toward he organization OF
our resources Their time, their
influence and their money have
been freely expended for any
thing which tended toward secur-
ing broader American patrlo-
tiSm.
This year the number OF
camps has been Increased five
times. and the enrollments in
even greater proportion. For