Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-19
V0LUNTEERPLAN
IS HELD FAILURE
Gen. Scott Says Compulsory
Military Training Has
Become a Necessity

| Become a Necessity
y Washington, D. c., Dec. 1s.-Major
General Scott, chief of staff of the
army, told the senate military commit
tee today that the army general staff,
recommended without apology, that
the volunteer system be discarded be-
cause "the time has come when this
country, unless it intends to avoid war
at any cost must resort to universal
liability to military training and SER
vice."
Arraigning the volunteer system as
extravagant, inefficient and dangerous,
the chief of staff told the committee
that the universal training would be
democratic, reliable, efficient and econ
omical and within few years practi-
cally render the United States immune
| from attack
1T would be democratic" he said,
because the burden of national de-.
fense would fall equally upon all citi-
zens. 1t would make it impossible for
any man or group Of men to trade up
! on the nations necessities in time of
. war. The system would be reliable
| because it would produce each year
the number of men necessary to be
trained. 1t would be economical be-
cause it would be based upon recogni-
| tion of the people, of the duty of the
individual to render personal service
and in carrying it into effect the gov
eminent would not have to compete in
the labor market. 1t would be efiici-
ent because it would enable us to pre-
pare adequately for war before war
comes"
No Men in Crisis.
At the outset General Scott pointed
out that the Mexican crisis had failed
to recruit many national guard organi-
cations even to their minimum peace
strength.
"The failure should make the whole
people realize that the volunteer sys-
tenn does not and probably will not
give us either the men we need in
peace, or for service in war;" said he.
Reviewing the intensive training
which European and other nations re-
quire he declared that if American
troops ever were to compete with high.
ly trained and splendidly disciplined
forces they would require training
and discipline at least equal to that of
their opponents.
The lessons OF the European
war, the general said, had demonstrate
ed that higher standard OF training
and discipline were required than was
popularity considered necessary before.
and that most of the European nations
for that reason found they could not
develop them in less than two years
with the colors.
Wants Big Army.
General Scott, disclosing much Of
the army war college material, .hither.
to regarded as confidential, showed
that the army general staff believes
that instead of 100000 available men,
which is considered sufficient. as
vasion. the country should have 1,500,-
900 fully trained men at the beginning
of a war with like number ready to
follow in ninety days. The change is
based on the development Of the Brit
ish army, the organization Of great
Canadian forces and the British alli-
ance with Japan.
With such force available the
army general staff. General Scott said,
considers the United States practically
immune from such an attack as mill
tary strategists believe might be ex-
pected from the victorious set of pow
ers in the European war.
Protests Are Heard.
Walter N. Fisher. former secretary
of the interior. declared himself in
favor of adequate preparedness, but
opposed to the compulsory service
idea.
"I believe he said. there is, no
higher duty than to provide for ade-
auate military preparedness. But
there is radical difference between
military policy for defense and an
aggressive policy. If we are going to
defend the Monroe doctrine in its
broadcast sense, we are embarking on
military impossibility."
To provide first line of defense.
Mr.. Fisher suggested that the pay Of
the army be doubled, that civic train.
ing which would fit the men for civil
life be made compulsory and that as
rapidly as they could be trained men
be discharged into d citizen reserve,
liable for duty in war
"The plan proposed here is to adopt
universal training for the sake OF its
civic by-product, for it is argued that
universal training will give greater
civic efficiency. Why not turn this
around IF you'll adopt civic discipline
for the sake of its military by-product,
you'll carry the country and you can't
carry 1t otherwise"