The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-23
BIG army NECESSARY
GEN. SCOTT SAYS VOLUNTEER
SYSTEM is A FAILURE.
Urgently Recommends Adoption of
Unusual Compulsory Military Ser
vicc-Says This Country Needs an
Army Of a Million and q Half With
Equal Number Of Reserves for
Adequate Defense.

Adequate Defense.
Washington, Dec. 18.-The mobili-
Of the National Guard for bor-
der service was described as a milf
tary failure emphasizing the urgent
necessity of abandoning the volun-
teer system as the nations reliance
for defense, in statements today by |
Maj. Gen. Hugh l.. Scott. CHIEF OF |
staff Of the army, and Maj. Gen. Leon
ard Wood, commanding the Eastern
department, before the senate sub.
committee considering the Chamber |
lain universal military training bill.
Both Of the generals advocated unit
versal training. Gen. Wood declared
that the country now was utterly de-
fenseless against a well organized foe;
that the mobilization was a tragedy
and that If the guardsmen had met
good troops they would never have
known what hit them" Gen. Scott
told the committee that lessons drawn
from the present war proved that In
case of war with q first class power
the United States would need iutnae-
diately a trained force OF 100000
men. with another 1900, 900 available
within 80 days.
On the other side Of the question
the committee heard Walter L. Fisher
Of Chicago, former secretary OF the
interior. who opposed universal SER
vice. though no stood for adeQNats
defense measures and suggested q
regular army Of a half q million, He
thought II the pay of privates were
raised to $50 O month the service
would be more attractive to recruits.
Gen. Scott told the committee today
that the army general staff recoin-
mended without apology that the Vol.
unteer system be discarded becatse
"the time has come when this coun-
try, unless it intends t avoid war; NJ
any cost must resort to universal
liability to military training and ser
vice. NJ
Terming tho volunteer system "
travagant. inefficient and dangerot6.
tho chief of staff told the comnlittse
that universal training wouldslSb
democratic. reliable, efficient ana
sconomical, and within a, few yekax
practically would render the UtH&G4
Statss .amtnuns from attAckgx
aIt4zknniAAhA
Scqnss the burden or natf6&S1s6e d
Sense would TALL equally upon all citi-
zens. ut would make it impossible
for, any man or group Of men to trade
|uponpthe nations necessities In time of
war. The system would be reliable
because 1t would produce each year
the number Of men necessary to be
trained. 1t would be economifaN be-
cause it would be based upon recog-
milton by the people of the duty of
the individual to render personal SER
vice and in carrying it into effect the
government would not have to o II
pete in the labor market. It would
be efficient because it would enable
us to prepare adequately for war be-
fore val comes.
Gen. Scott pointed out that the
Mexican crisis had failed to recruit
many National Guard organizations
even to their minimum q
strength.
1.-THE failure should make the
whole people realize that the volun-
teer system does not and probably
Will not give US either the men we
need In peace or for service in war.n
said he. He declared that If Ameri-
a troops ever were to compete with
highly trained and splendidly discip-
line forces they would require train
Ing and 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 discipline were required than was
popularity considered necessary be-
fore, and that most Of the European
nations for that reason found they
could not develop them TN less than
two years with the colors.
1T should be Obvious said he.
that 1872 hours training prescribed
for the National Guard is utterly in
adequate to prepare this force fer
war service
For war with a first class power
the general staff had previously est!-
mated that 100000 fully equipped
DO n, lo, - ..t