The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-12-14
CONGRESS TO Be ASKED TO PROVIDE
FOR UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING
Several Bills Being Prepared for The Consideration Of the National
Lawmakers-Swss System Suggested as Pattern for the
United States Pan-ConSdered by Experts as Ideal
From Defensive Standpoint

Wnshlugtou.-Every sign points 10
some sort OF legislation bearing on uni.
Versal military training IN the United
States. And lt is becoming more and
more apparent that there may be
more than one bill presented to con
Eress to provide TO- the establishment
Of one system or another OF military
preparation for the youth Of America.
Recently there has been more talk
Of such legislation. Just how far the
American people win be willing to go
"a this matter not even the best judges
can possibly know,
President Wilson and various mem
bers Of his cabinet, not 10 mention
high officers Of the army and navy.
are almost a unit In the opinion that
lthe voluntary plan Of obtaining re-
eruIts has been. up to date, fallure
and that some program OF universal
military training will be best for the
country In the long run.
Various bills providing FOR universal
military training are In process Of
making One Is being whipped into
form by persons Identified with the
Universal Military Training league,
whose headquarters are In Chicago,
but whose hackers know no state.llnes
and are not restricted by party or
sect. It will be some time before any
bill is in shape to 60 before the house
or senate, but, In the main, the princl-
pal features can now be presented.
Follow the Swiss Plan.
The idea seems 70 be 10 pattern the
United States plan after the Swiss
system Of defensive military trimming
and preparation Experts are laying
stress upon the difference between a
military training plan looking to the
defense OF a country and one contem-
plating aggression. Some experts hold
that the Swiss plan Is an ideal one
from u defensive standpoint and the
German system quite typical Of one
concerned not only with defensive but
aggressive military measures.
Howard II, Gross, preSideRt Of the
Universal Military Training league,
has just finished a visit In Washing
ton, where he conferred with numer-
Gus officials, Including Secretary Of
War Baker Mr. Gross Is careful to
emphasize the importance Of q con-
Seryatlve system Of military training
as against one that might invite op-
position from persons who see a mill.
taristic bogey ln every preparedness
suggestion.
'In Switzerland recently the entire
Swiss army including an the re-
serves, was put on the Swiss border
within forty-eight hours" said Mr.
Gross. "The Swiss border mlnu.
Swiss soldiers would have been quite
as Inviting as the Belgian border had
been. In mountain pass and on pluir
Swiss soldiers who had been accus
toned TO drilling and handling a fire
arm since boyhOOd were gathered b!
the hundreds Of thousands. Eacl
Swiss Is what one would call In thi
country "A dead shot Mobilization o
these dead shots, In short, spelled tn
complete safety Of the Swiss republi,
from the warning nations of Europe
Switzerland, however, Is not mill
taristlc country, but quite the re
verse"
Every Lad TO Train.
As outlined at present one OF tn
bills providing for universal mllltar
trimming will contain the following I'm
DOrtant Items
Every lad between the ages Of eight
cen and twenty-three shall be subjec
TO military training unless he is phys
teally or mentally deficient
In the nineteenth year the boy mus
20 10 the nearest training camp. wher
ne will he received by Uncle Sam an
given several months Of rigorous tralr
ing In military maneuyers. handlln
Of arms and the Sclence of warfare.
The next year the boy must also r,
port for similar duty, but his teri
Of trimming viii not be so prolonged d
the first year
Capable United States army and n
Vni officers will be In charge, and Il
boys viii be taught discipline, obed
ence. care OF their bodies, upbulldlr
Of the physique, camping-out met
eds. besides the regulation drill an
target practice.