The Detroit times., 1916-01-17
Constructive Defense
BV Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright, 1915, by Frank Cranel

Hardly had / written the article on
An Army of Public Service" when there
came in my mail pamphlet by Henry
G.. Traver, entitled "1nvincible America:
A Plan of Constructive Defense" where
in a plan of about the same kind is ad-
vocated and cogently argued.
Ine idea is to form vast Industrial
army, which will undertake the great
reclamation projects, the Mississippi
River Improvement and other much
needed public works, under the control
of the United States army engineers.
Give these engineers an army of Young
men who can handle a pick and shovel,
live in the open, drive mules, load waQ-
ons, operate motor trucks, and live the
life OF soldier, and you have the max.
ngs of the most effective citizen sol
diery the world has ever seen.
Frequent military drills and occas-
slonal extensive maneuvers could be
practiSed.
The pamphlet calls attention to the
great need of road building in the United
States, and the deplorable road condi-
tlons in many parts of the country, and
truly says that this will not be rem
edied until the whole matter is turned
over to the United States army.
The objection to a large standing
army is very deep among our people.
Because OUR ONLY CONCEPTION
OF AN ARMY is THE EUROPEAN
KIND, consisting of men withdrawn from
productive labor living in comparative
idleness. and constituting a tremendous
burden upon the taxpayers.
An industrial army" however, would
not be such It would pay for itself. It
would do works that would mean inn
proved prosperity to farmers, mer-
chants, and all.
The mental and moral development Of
the men in this army would naturally
be higher than in the army under the
present system, where so much time is
spent i'm monotonOus routine
"Under the old system says Mr.
Traver, "men often find it difficult 10
get work after their discharge, because
their whole life in the service has made
them unadapted either by experience or
disposition 70 work in civil life. Under
the proposed system the men will gain
practical knowledge in many useful
trades. while their regular habits OF
industry and the rigid discipline Of their
training will make them efficient wage
earners when their terms Of service ex-
pire"
Besides all this, such an army would
become an eTectual balance wheel Of
labor" 1t would absorb "the army OF
the unemployed' that yearly forms
threatening problem in our cities. All
who want work and cannot find 1t else
where can find il here.
"This. then" concludes the plea, rs
the new American army. Their weap-
ons are not weapons Of death, but picks
and shovcls hammers and drills, the
tools Of thrift and industry, the instru-
ments Of peace They are conquerors,
not Of men. but of the great forces OF
nature. Soldiers. not of battle, but
soldiers Of the great common good. How
every American bosom will swell with
pride at the sight of such an army. The
pride of every American in the Panama
Canal will be reflected and re-echoed IN
every great highway and river from
coast to coast. And when the time
comes. If it does come. 20 repel foreign
foe. these men Will be fitted by their
training and experience to fight for their
country as well as any army that ever
took the field.
A copy OF this pamphlet can be Sc
cured free by applying 10 The Society
Of Constructive Defense, Ridgewood, n.