New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-13

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Having carefully read your editorial
Making Army Service Worth While" in The
Tribune Of June 8, will you permit me to
state my views on how to get and train the
youth of this nation into great army?
First. enlist men into the regular army for
three years, with the right OF an honorable
discharge at the end of the first years SER
vice This would give the nation a body of
men we'll trained and stop the thousands Of
assertions annually under the present plan
Of recruiting.
Should the recruit stay for the second and
third years, increase his pay S. a month for
both years, payable when discharged. This
would give him S120 cash, besides his savings
to begin life anew
At the end Of the first years enlistment, if
the recruit preferred and could pass the men
tai, moral and physical examinations, send
him to irst class military school for one
year Then, if he could pass the examina-
tions required for a cadet at West Point, send
him for a four-year course 20 one Of three
great West Points located on the Hudson, at
or near Nashville, Tenn, and at Walla Walla,
Wash.
Second, give every boy in the public and
private schools over sixteen years Of age
fine uniform TO care for and be proud TO
wear renewing 1t as he outgrows it, and a
musket with at least ten rounds of ammuni-
ton. Organize the boys into companies, they
to elect their own officers, and require that
on Saturdays they shall drill and have tar
get practice. Repeal all laws conflicting with
the right of the enrolled boys as TO carrying
arms.
At the age Of eighteen, if the boy has been
in the service not less than one year and can
pass the examination, send him to one Of the
military schools for a years training, and, II
he can pass the examination, to one of the
West Points provided in the first section.
Lots of these boys would drop out after a
year in the military school, some would like
to quit after one year at the West Point
school. Let them go into private life carry
ing with them the education and discipline
acquired, and should war break out prac-
tically every man of them would answer the
first call TO arms.
Third, abolish the present system Of ap-
pointing cadets to West Point, even taking
from the President the right 70 appoint. and
require that all applicants from the army or
military schools must first pass mental
to show that he is a manly well educated
soldier-to-be
Fourth allow no details from the line until
the officer has served at least three years
with his company, and then not TO exceed
three years, and not 10 be renewed until he
has again served three years with his COM
pany or regiment This would break up the
present system of officers being detailed away
from their companies and regiments for
years at a time, going from one detail to an
other.
The writer has served more than fifty years
as an enlisted man and an officer. and knows
whereof he writes when he says that II IS al
most impossible for an enlisted man. IN the
present status of affairs, 10 become a COM
mssioned officer No gamblers, drunkards or
dsreputables should be allowed in the army
either enlisted or commissioned. All recruit
ing for the army should be done by retired
officers. detailed for five years and receiving
full pay and allowances, not above the rank
of major. L. ). ARMY, RE TIRED
Washington, June g. 1915