The Cordova daily times., 1916-06-08
HOLLAND WILL BE. READY f WAR
 COMES

lNOiItEDO DOllutiitt VI NHt EhoS'NiNANN Press.D - An army of 1,3OO,00O men as Hollands military strength in any future European struggle is the pre- paredness program of the "Volksweer- baarheid," or National Defense Asso- citation. which enjoys a state subsidy and had 40 branches and nearly IA | 900 members.
 Under this program every able bodied man and woman would be en- listed for the country's defense; there would be universal service instead of the limited compulsory system which now obtains. The association is con vinced that freedom and indepen- dence can be assured only when all who are able, conscious of their duty, prepare themselves in service in tie country's defense forces, with a view in case of necessity to being able to defend those most sacred possessions of the nation"
 The concrete scheme of the asso- citation takes the form of general com pulsOry training, with limited repeti- ton training and service. and local and provincial training and organiza- tion. Starting out from the principle that the basis of all defense must be the forming of a powerful race, the program would provide physical exer- else in the schools, and subsequent preparatory training of the youth of the country. After this the time aC- tually spent in the ranks would be comparatively short, the association argues. citing what has been seen in that respect in the present war.
 Only a few of the large levies thus obtained would suffice to form the field army Thence the men would pass out into the local troops Ter ritorial defense forces. These latter would be so organized that, together with the strong localized frontier and coast guards, they could be ready to take the field in a few hours.
 While the local troops" would, in the first place. serve for defense, the field army would be destined for of fensive operations. The two together would form a force of about SO0,OoO men, fully trained. while there would still be a reserve in the depots of more than 800. .O0O men. making up the total of 1,3OO,000 mentioned.
 Summarized. this new national army would be constituted as follows: Frontier and coastal troops, 134,5OO men; field army, 107.000 position troops, 15.50O; marine, 5000; local troops, 5S4,5OO; total, 796,5OO men. Reserve: Local reserve. first ban. 400, ,00O men; second ban, 170,O men; total. 57O.OOO men.
 With such an army, which is repre- sented as quite feasible, the old axio- matic principle of retiring behind the | famous Dutch water line" might be abandoned and positions taken up i'm mediately behind the frontiers, the as- sociation points out. The basic idea of the program is said to enjoy wide sympathy and sup port, and the plan is expected to come up for serious consideration in one | form or another when the present crisis is past.
 In talk with the correspondent of the Associated Press, the secretary of the association laid special stress on the fact that the women must also be organized and trained to cooper ate, presumably largely in Red Cross work.
 Apart from it's propaganda actiVi- ties, the National Defense Associa- tion has been instrumental in raising lnearly 10000 volunteer Landstrum troops to reinforce the mobilized Iarmy.
 Since it's birth in 1899, the organiza- tion has provided extensive facilities for rifle practise and the requirement of other military arts, furthered gym nastic and athletic clubs, trained wo- linen for Red Cross work. and founded summer training camps.
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