New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-08
Making Army Service Worth While
We have received the following letter,
which undoubtedly reflects state OF
mind not at all uncommon:

which undoubtedly reflects a state Of
mind not at all uncommon:
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: VIII you allow me to inquire, sssum-
ing Congress were to pass bill raising our
army to the maximum demanded by the radi-
cal preparedness people, where we are to get
the men TO carry out such plan? AT the
present time we have recruiting stations all
over the country, but how many are enlist
ing?
There is a prevailing sentiment that the
preparedness parade Of May 10 can be used
as a barometer to show the desire of the peo-
pie in this matter. But although those who
marched may at heart believe and wish for
all that the parade sgnifed, what percentage
Of such. if the bill they desire were passed by
Congress, would give up their positions and
home environments for the pay and life Of
the army?
| write this letter not as pacifst las !
am for preparedness), nor as a reflection on
the good intentions Of the msrchers of May
H. but as one who cannot conceive how, II
the maximum army bill were passed by Con
qress. we are TO get the men in order to full
! fl its expectations. PREPAREDNESS
New York, June o. 1916.
1t is the greatest defect of the make
| shift army reorganization bill just signed
| by the President that it continues the
outworn military system under which re-
pugnance to army service is q normal
and thoroughly justifable attitude. Con
gress authorized a couple Of months ago
temporary increase of 10000 men in
the enlisted strength Of the army. So far
only about 5000 recruits have been OBJ
tanned. Yet that is an excellent showing
when the conditions Of service in the old
army are taken into consideration.
Mr.. Hays ideal, the ideal of all whole
pacifst and anti-preparedness groups in
Washington, is a small standing force Of
professional soldiers: Only such men are
wanted as are willing TO make a business
Of soldering. Long first enlistments are
insisted upon and establishments are slim
|ulated. This theory isolates the army
minimizes it's contact with the civilian
nopulation. keeps it stagnant as well as
detached and prevents its development as
an agency of education and national
efficiency.
Into such an army few men of energy
self-respect and ambition want to 20
The mercenary soldier is now an anachro'
nism. Pursued on old-fashioned lines, the
profession of soldering does not pay. In
any up-to-date army it must be made e
nav. II must offer to those who take II
mn return economically worth while
The term of enlistment should be short
Every recruit should receive a training
which will add to his efficiency and earn
ing capacitv when he leaves the ranks
To those who wish to remain the way
should be opened to advancement into the
officers corps. Caste and class dlstinc
tions. inherited from the past, should he
obliterated. The same democratic spirit
should be infused into the army as exists
in the civil branches of the government
in institutions of learning and in indus
trial and business enterprises.
We cannot have real army in the
modern sense until we cut loose entirely
from the false conceptions of our present
system. Army service should represent
opportunity as well as duty. The army
should be converted into a national train
ing school, with course of from one and
half to three years. Then young men
would flock into it, and after getting Their
education would become members Of the
resorve-a real reserve. whose strength
could easily be kept at from 100000 to
100000 men.
The pacifst argument that it is useless
to increase the size Of the regular army
because not enough men can be recruited
for it is sophistry. We have the men
4 i'm abundance. All we need is the mod
ern machinery with which TO give them