Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-12-15

WaSnlnRLOn.-ENeTy sigh polhIS "
some sort of legislation bearing on uni
versal military training in the United
States. And it is becoming more and
more apparent that there may be
more thar one bill presented to con-
gress to provide for 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 will be willing 10 go
in this matter not even the best judges
can possibly know.
President Wilson and various mem
hers of his cabinet, o to mention
high officers of the army and navy,
are almost a unit in the opinion that
the voluntary plan of obtaining re
cruits has been, up to date, II failure
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,
hut whose hackers know no state lines
and are not restricted by party or
sect. 1t will be some time before any
hin is in shape to go before the house
or senate, but, in the main, the princi-
pal features can now be presented.
Follow the Swiss Plan.
The idea seems to be to pattern the
United States plan after the Swiss
system of defensive military training
and preparation. Experts are laying
stress upon the difference between n
military training plan looking to the
defense of a country ana one cOntem-
plating aggression. Some experts hold
that the Swiss plan is an ideal one
from q defensive standpoint and the
German system quite typical of one
concerned not only with defensive but
aggressive military measures.
Howard IL. Gross, president OF the
Universal Military Training league,
has Just finished a visit in Washing
ton, where he conferred with numer-
Gus officials, including Secretary of
Wal Baker. Mr.. Gross is careful to
emphasize the Importance of a con
sentative system of military training
as against n that might invite OPP
position from persons who see a mill
suggestion.
'ln Switzerland recently the entire
Swiss army, including all the re
serves, was put on the Swiss border
within fOrty-eight hours" said Mr.
Gross. 1.-The Swiss border minus
Swiss soldiers would have been quite
as inviting as the Belgian border had
been. In mountain pass and on plain
Swiss soldiers who had beer accus
toned t o drilling and handling a fire
arm since bOyhOOd were gathered by
the hundreds of thousands. Each
Swiss is what one would call in this
country "A dead shot Mobilization OF
these dead Shots in short, spelled the
complete safety of the Swiss republic
from the warning nations of Europe
Switzerland, however, is not a mill
taristic country, but quite the re
verse;"
Every Lad to Train.
AS outlined at present, n of the
bills providing for universal military
training will contain the following i'm
pOrtant items:
Every lad between the ages of eight
cen and twenty-three shall be subjec
to military training unless he is phys
ically or mentally deficient.
In the nineteenth year the boy mus
go t the nearest training camp, wher,
he will be received by Uncle Sam ant
given several months Of rigorous train
ing in military maneuvers, handling
Of arms and the science of warfare.
The next year the boy must also re
port for similar duty, but his tern
of training will not be so prolonged a
the first year.
Capable United States army and ma
val officers win be I'm charge, and tn
boys will be taught discipline, Obedi
ence, care of their bodies, upbuiidinI
of the physique, camplng-Out meth
DDS, besides the regulation drill an
target practice.