Evening star., 1916-12-20
ARGUE IN FAVOR OF
UNIVERSAL TRAINING
Representatives of National
Military League Appear Be-
fore Senate Committee.

Howard H. Gross of Chicago and Ed
ward Harding of New York. represent
ing the Universal Military Training
League, argued in favor of universal
service today before the Senate COM
mittee considering Senator Chamber
lain's bill for that purpose.
Mr.. Gross told the committee compul-
sorry training could not be secured
through schools. because they were un-
der control of the states, and declared
it would not be desirable, because a
school training would not get men at
the best age to teach them military
lessons.
He argued compulsory service would
increase the spirit of democracy by
causing the sons of rich and poor alike
to serve in common.
He believed compulsory system
would reduce the standing army so per
cent.
Neither he nor Mr.. Harding was able
to tell the committee how much the
system proposed would cost.
Tells of Hardships in Mexico.
Col. W. c. Brown, who commanded the
10th Cavalry under Gen. Pershing and led
we're punishment to the Villa bandits. was
before the committee yesterday and told
of the hardsrips the troops in Mexico
encountered
Senator Lee of Maryland, who is not a
member of the committee. but who cham
pioned the cause Of the National Guard
during debates on the national defense
act, sought to ross-examine Col Brown.
put was stopped by Chairman Chamber
lain.
A report on the mobilization Of the
National Guard of the country, COM
piled by Col. Brown shows that Of l2s.-
600 enlisted men of the militia IN
spected on the border, s1.179, or SO per
cent, We're either transferred from
militia organizations not called out or
were recruits. leaving only 81 per
cent of the force representing the
National Guard or the organized militia
element on the rolls of the organiza-
tons in question at the date of call"
Substantially Volunteer Force.
OF those who were on the rolls at the
time of the call. according to the re-
port. 47,657 were lost for various causes
during the period of transition into the
federal service, making the National
Guard as 1t went to the border substan-
Der lost, 1883 failed to respond to the
call at all. and 23,721 were rejected for
physical disa bility.
AS to the training of the force before
it reached the border, the report says,
SO per cent, or s1,263 men, had had
less than three months military train
ing Of any kind and more than $4,000
none at all.
Turning to the craftsmanship of the
state troops, the report shows that
.,G eVsr YjH
at all, and that more than Il, 900 others
had received rating of less than first
class at the targets.
Requirements of Defense Act.
Referring to the requirements of
the new national defense act, the re-
port says: THE very exactions and re-
quirements which are necessary to the
edly tend to produce a distaste for
service in the National Guard among
the classes of young men who have
hitherto Joined it for social reasons"
An active campaign for militia re-
cruits carried on all over the United
States during period of four months.
July ! to October 81, continues the
report, produced about $1,000 num-
ber insufficient to fill vacancies caused
by discharge and casualties occurring
during the same period.
Gen. Scott said that despite an almost
house house canvass to get recruits
the regular army still is short about
$4,000 men of the peace requirement
under the new law
Senator Thomas asked if national de-
fense was not regarded by most per-
sons as an impersonal question.
Yes replied the general, we let
George do it,"