New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13
PREPARING FOR SERVICE Nor
Public Schools Athletic Leagu. |, gx
Boys to Protect Nation
To The Editor Of The Tribune

many other patriotic societie, A..
splendid work in creating a nations, W
ment in favor OF "preparedne,,s
owing TO them that apathy on the 81,
has become interest, until IN. s.n.,r.-.ss
favor OF universal service T. pr.dor,,.s
the East and Is spreading all over n,
try. But no definite plan as 70 what, 70
done now has TO my knowledge been o.
lated. On the contrary. all the Mar,
posed, except the summer camps. Win
quire many months 10 be carried A.,
the camps, valuable as they ore. do ~.
up TO anything permanent.
There are, however, two orgsnizatlon. a
arc actually producing IN. goods -.
which little public attention has been 49,,
the Public Schools Athletic League a, .,
city and the Military Training Comma
Of the state. The league has 20, 49,.
fourteen years, in addition 10 carrvin, :. I
the New York schools a system Of .tl,.s
which last year reached some 200 e0o ~
dren, been teaching the boys OF n, NJ
schools 10 shoot with the service rife AZ
/ 5000 having been instructed last year -
| ing an aggregate OF perhaps 10000 7.
this it has installed in the school, "a ~
target gun machines fourteen OF which -
| donated by its treasurer S. R. Cns.,.
helm, at cost OF S275 each. and has,
chased and issued 20 the school. sboo, n.
/ Krag rifles equipped with what is e.n.i
/ practice rod a mechanism by which A ~
/ thrown forward from a rife barrel Nv \
blow of the firing pin, and makes an in5,,,
ton in small card target placed & i,,,.
from the muzzle). II also arrange, "a, a.
| boys TO practise in the rife galleries o, a.
different armories and takes annually "a 4.
state rife range as many as il can .Fo,, !,
the boys who have learned in M, ~,
where they arc found 10 be re "a a..
with the service rife and ann milton a, !.
curately as the National Guardsmen
! During the last two years 30 has i,r,.,
such of the high school boys as could ob,.
the written consent OF their parents 10 NJ,
up military instruction after school Ion,
and has provided armories, arms ana /.
structors. Last year about !, 900 boy, 10.
| taught, many of whom have uniformed tl,.
selves This number would have been n.s
greater IL the funds Of the league, which !,
derived from the contributions OF rs M.
bers, would have permitted Az the P F,
A. L. games on January p a uniformed c-
pany Of So from the Boys High School 4
Brooklyn gave an exhibition drill in el..
and extended order by orders given b
whistle signals which was most credisg.
\ At present & large number OF boy, A.
- -
league is organizing an attempt TO prom,
it as FAR as is means will permit rs ersr
have been and arc being bitterly opposed }
the ultra peace people, the socialist, a,
some labor leaders, On the other hr.
they are supported by the school prineiu
and by many labor representatives.
II is self-evident that II the effect o. b
instruction will be TO reach the boys Of 1
of our high schools h would add greatly ..
at once to our military strength. The liz
to give any forces we may be compelled (,
raise anything like military training viii
very short It will not be enough to ux
them to shoot, which. az Lord Roberts q
cially stated, "is seven-tenths o. sodis
training" All advocates Of preparsdsa
should thereupon lend a helping hand TO q
work
The Military Service Commission AZ
needs their backing Under the Slater u
passed last spring this commission has 10
reached a decision in formulating a plan q
giving military training 20 all boys bstvM
sixteen and nineteen, one hour weed =
boys Of sixteen. two for those Of ssytn.s
and three for those Of eighteen. and 70 ?.
SEQ boys in a summer camp This Il :
course, only beginning. but L is ell "a
the commission can now see i.s way 70 unes
take. Even with this, what it will be able :
accomplish will necessarily depend upon III
money the Legislature will appropria
The Public Schools Athletic League
endeavoring 70 aid the commission by gs.-t
the work organized among the sehoolboyS
the present time. In this u is meeting ~
opposition. For several months an elabors
attempt has been carried on by the same ~
pie who have opposed what the league ~
been doing to secure the repeal Of the Sat
law. and the extent Of the persona stisa
that have been made upon me and the on
officers Of the league for our connection ~
it is almost incredible
I The wave OF patriotism which has sprsil
a
up since President Wilson'S action in q
missing the German Ambassador hn "r
this movement out OF existence.
But, nevertheless, the Military Str'
Commission needs that all friends d .
tional defence shall bring ell the frt7c'
they can exert upon the Legislature % y
vide the funds which are necessary fo' y p
carry out the great work for which '"
created.
II these are supplied, the scheme VII |
success, which will cause the plan >
adopted in all the other states, and thu'P'
vide in a brief time Thousands Of young J,
who will require bur a brief training 70 ~
them reasonably efficient soldiers. "
also be a great step 20 universal seryiet
GEO. w. WINGATkl
| President. Public Schools Athlete Lsss''
| New York, Feb. T. 1917
Not a Pro-Geman