New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-08
Universal Training Is
Urged by Chief OF
Army Staff
SAYS VOLUNTEER
SPIRIT is DEAD
Hay System Expensive;
Fails TO Produce
Results
-r-.n u. rr,suas Rurtsa J

Washington. Dec. In sharp con-
.,s., 70 Yesterdays report Of Secre-
49,, - War Baker, Major General
ur,b L Scott. in his annual report as
cEi,f Of staff, issued to-day pro-
.,,,ces the militia system failure
"a declares fatty FOR universal mill
..Ty training. This report is declared
- tsvs the approval Of the whole stah'
.n,,r5inr the War College, and 70 rep
-.,.n, the views Of 90 per cent OF the
oHeers Of the army
General Scott not only states ms De-
~ that in 10 other way than by uni
v.r.al training can adequate defence
4. ss,pred. but he condemns the Hay
militia system as unduly expensive
without producing results.
The rsnort reviews the military his
,.ry Of nc United states, and draws
,.. conclusion that as a result OF the
,-..srt military system and the pac'-
e.,ic nropaCsnda the spirit Of patriot
,.m Is declining. The fact that re-
cruiting for the National Guard
s,o,,.d 10 nothing at the height Of the
r.c.pt emergency is cited in support OF
this view.
Cites Failure of System
Public interest la the army and
navy and the national defence gem
orally" says General Scott, "had been
aroused 10 comparatively high de-
gree. vet in what is considered by the
government a grave emergency the Ma
tional Guard is modified for service
on the Southern frontier 10 protect the
lives Of American men, women and
children. recruiting is found so diff
cult that many Of its organizations
have not get, over three months aftat
the call been raised even TO mini
mum peace strength, and likewise the
units Of the regular army have not
leen recruited 20 the minimum peace
strength authorized in the new ma
tionsl defence act.
ANY one at sll familiar with the et'
fort made and now beng made to re-
orut the units of both the regular
army and the organized militia will
understand that the failure to obtain
recruits is not due to defective
methods of recruiting. in fact. every
flor, has been made, in many cases an
aeius. house-to-house canvass being
Undertaken 10 obtain recruits for the
militia.
IN view Of the above facts. it would
be indeed an exceedingly shallow
thinker who could attach much blame
10 the personnel Of either the regular
army OF the organized militia for fail
ure 10 recruit 10 war strength. The
failure should make the whole people
realize that the volunteer system does
rot and probably will not. give us
either the men we need for training in
peace o. for service m war
Urges Universal Training
IN ny Judgment" General Scott con-
unued. "the country will never be pre-
pared for defence until We do as other
great nations do that have large in
itrests TO guard. like Germany. Japan
and France where everybody is ready
and does perform military service IN
tine Of peace as he would pay every
ether tax. and is willing 10 make sacri-
tees for the protection he gets and the
country gets IN return. The volunteer
system in this country. in view OF the
highly organized, trained and disci-
plined armies that our possible oppo-
nents possess, should be relegated TO
The past.
There is 10 reason why one woman's
son should 20 out and defend or be
trained 70 defend another woman and
ner son who refuses 70 take training or
glve service. The only democratic
method is for every man in his youth
% become trained, in order that he may
render Efficient service II called upon
lu way
Universal military training has
9een the cornerstone upon which has
been built every republic in the history
OF the world, and its abandonment the
signal for decline and obliteration. This
iaei was fully recognized by the
makers of our Constitution and evi-
ceneed ia our early laws. a regular
army was regarded as inconsistent with
he principles Of free government, dan
ssfous 70 free institutions and apart
tem the necessities Of the times. All
"tft imbued with d patriotism which
would make them stand shoulder 10
'hoslder in upholding the laws and in
as defence OF the common country,
sasFing equally the blessings Of peace
ane The hardship Of war.
States Rights Spoiled Law
~Iae law required every able-bodled
HAie between eighteen and forty-five
ytars 10 keep himself provided with
nne and ammunition and to attend
muster, and was in effect compulsory
Military service. Unfortunately the
eoesrine Of states rights crept in 20
prevent the enforcement Of Federal
lsw and each state was left 20 build
sp rs militia. The regular army eN-
,s'ed as small force 20 protect the
Western march Of civilization from
Indian forsy.
III is vital that our ideas with ref
eftnce 10 military service be reno
isied. For our small army we &c into
ne labor market for recruits. When
he demand for labor is lax, the stipend
ol the soldier attracts; when the daily
wage goes up, recruiting is at its low
est ebb.
There is no appeal to patriotism,