The Washington herald., 1916-05-16
By E. b. JOHNS.

There are three provisions, in the army
reorganization bill which are designed
to make service in the regular army
more attractive and increase the number
OF enIistments The Senate committee
has recognized the fact that steps must
be taken to NIL up the army Is authorized
by the bill without regard to the pas &c
of anv other legislation for trained clu-
zen soldiers and so framed the enlist
ment term that it is possible for man
to pass into the reserve after one year
service with the colors.
During the Plattshurg encampment.
students have often declared that If they
were given a chance TO take an intensl-
fed period Of training in the regular
army Of one year they would enlist. This
same opinion has been frequently express
ed in communications from various ma
tional defense organizations interested IN
securing an adequate army. The enIlst-
ed man under the provision Of the bill,
upon his own application and with the
approval Of his commanders. passes lnto
the reserve at the end OF the year. he
is to remain in the reserves for six years.
The fexibilitv Of the enlistment pro
visions of the army bill, 1t is believed. Will
encourage enlistments. Since the Navy
Department has adopted a policy by
which an enlisted man can leave the serN-
ice when It is not congenial to him, the
desertions have decreased and the en-
listments increased.
The adoption Of Senator Hoke Smith 5
educational provision by the conferees
will offer to enlisted men an opportunity
to secure vocational training in the
army The military training itself is
an education. This has not been appre-
ciated in the United States, but in other
countries an honorable discharge from
the army is a recommendation TO a ci-
william employer.
Several of the European countries give
educati tional advantages to men while
! serving in the army. If. upon arriving at
! the age when he IS to enter the citizen S
army a young man has not acquired a
! common school education the Swiss gov
ernment sends him to school. Even dur
| ing the war the German government is
| keeping up its educational features in the
army.
! Under the Smith provision Of the army
! bill, the Secretary of War, 1t is under
stood, is authorized to employ civilian
| teachers to assist the army officers in
the instruction Of enlisted men. II is
! proposed to set aside so many hours for
educational purposes and to give the en-
listed men an opportunity to take voca-
| tional training.
The President is authorized to utilize
postmasters as recruiting agents for the
army under one provision Of the bill
which has been agreed to by the con-
ferees. The postmasters are TO receive
/ a fee for every accepted recruit that they
secure.
This is regarded as one Of the most
/ important provisions of the bill. 1t will
make every postoffice a recruiting sta
ton for the regular army. Through the
I postma sters recruiting officers of the
army can get in closer touch with the
people of the country. Whenever a young
man wishes to enlist in the army he can
make an applica tion to the postmaster
where he can secure all information rela-
tive to the service and the terms OF en-
| listmcnt.
I While it is believed that with some
| 5000 postmas sters acting as agents, re-
cruiting will be greatly stimulated in the
! regular army, the provision is a step