The sun., 1916-11-12
PLACE OF THE VOLUNTEER SOLDIER IN
AMERICA s SYSTEM OF DEFENCE.
Experience in the European War Applied 70 the Military Problems Of
This Country.
This Country.

The people OF the United states
are beginning TO take stock Of the
nations military resources. Until
quite recently there prevailed In this
country a general and vague optimism.
Like the British. We would "muddle
through" II attacked. and n country
us rich and powerful as the United
States would quickly forge the neces-
sary weapons out Of hand when the
time came. But now "A somewhat diff
fcrent sentiment is growing. 1t Is
recognized that problems of modern
war cannot lie settled on ancient
presidents.
Modern war is a matter ~ scientific
recruiting. ~ technical training, Of
chemistry. Of petroleum. Of railways.
.f sanitation. Again. the compulsory
military service laws in such thor
oughly democratic countries as
Switzerland, New Zealand and Aus
tralia. as well as the example Of Eng
land herself. are taken as a model Of
what democratic communities can DO
when the supreme hour comes. But
apart from questions Of the legal
theory OF compulsory or national scr.
vice. from which m~ilitsrism in the
Prussian sense must be carefully dis
tinguished. there are several practical
problems to be discussed.
First. Ii the scheme OF voluntary
training really national. adequate to
all occasions. fair to all and efficient
enough to carry the nation through a
war with the minimum expenditure of
men and money? Undoubtedly the
nation is realizing far better than
hitherto where these questions lead.
That II is the duty Of every citizen to
make himself efficient II an Idea strongly
held by AN increasing number. But
how Is this efficiency to be acquired?
The application Of compulsory mill
tary service upon all able bodied men
is something that only supreme neces-
sity would make popular, 10 II did
during the civil war. and until that
supreme necessity comes the question
of compulsory service will be shirked
by wavering and tentative politicians.
In theory II Is not wholly foreign to
the American spirit as a republican
aud democratic spirit. To ask all citi-
Gems, without distinction Of class or
calling. to give their aid in the defence
If the country does away with the I'M
fairness of depending upon the patriot
ism OF a few.
The experience Of Great Britain. the
experience gained In the mobilization
VI the National Guard. in suoh train
ing camps as P~lattsburg, indicate the
remedy for the faults of the compul-
sorry and voluntary systems. which is
surely some form of physical n
military training in the schools Or In
camps like Plattsburg or the volunteer
training camps Of England. Medical
and sanitary authorities who have
studied the guard mobilization believe
that some system of national service
would he for the good OF the country.
and would serve both Its mental and
it's physical health. The military
training of boys and young men. under
American conditions OF equity. seems
no, only practical but fair. M n
knows better than the physician and
military surgeon the difficulties and
dangers OF depending upon raw levies
in war time. This question has been
the subject of debates in Parliament.
debates carefully reported in the Lam
Get and the British Medical Journal
In the English medical and official
view ;her. are two clear duties for a
patriotic people to fulh: First. the
duty L. support without reserve the
military ~serNlc" act and its scheme
Of obligatory training. Everybody
recognizes the cxtrcme danger OF in
decision and how ~unelually the call
for men 10 the color has been re-
sponded TO in different localities and
among different Glasses. The spirit OF
the volunteer armS has been splendid,
but Il has not reached men who would
make good stun within it's organiza-
ton IL they were convinced that they
were needed. All that is required to
secure the adhesion OF such men Is to
provide the method Of making up their
minds Tor them. The second duty Of
English writers and political leaders
has been one Of criticism. II was
candidly acknowledged that the en-
durance Of the new recruits was below
u safe standard.
Certainly the quality OF endurance
- III primary importance. II Ia an es-
srrtial quality. enabling the man VINO
mas il 20 withstand tina fatigues Of
marching and the mental strain Of
war. How great this mental strain