Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-11-02
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number -Four
Military Training Necessary for Safety
and Defense.
Number Four

war In the encyclopedia at school. We
found that In the war between Ger
many and France In 1s70-7l. Germany
lost In Killed and wounded 2S.000 sol
diers while France lost about six times
ns many. and besides that. she lost
every battle. We asked Professor Slo-
cum why this was. He said that the
German army was highly trained and
ably commanded. while the French
soldiers were poorly trained: and that
their war department was honey
coinbed with jealousy and politics:
that the officers were not much good.
and that's Why France lost the war
and so many men. What do you think
about II. Uncle DnnY
"Well," sold Uncle Dan, Professor
S.ocuin Is right. By Inefdcieney Frnnce
lost that war. together with two of
her best proyinces--Alsace and Lor-
raine--and had to pay billion dol
lars indemnity money. France today
learned her lesson by that sad expo
rienco. so size put In universal military
trimming. and AZ q result. her soldiers
now know how TO fight and how TO
protect themselves They nre losing
less men In the war thnn the Germans.
France also put politics out Of her war
department. so that expert authority.
Instead Of Bureaucratic stupidity. now
directs the army. The result IL.
France has one OF the best and most
efficient armies every assembled. and
this shows what thorough training and
good leadership means In warfare.
This snved France In this crisis. as
well az the liberties of the world
AS war II now conducted. there II
no place for en- untruined mnn. A
body of 10000 well trimmed soldiers
properly handled could defeat five
times their number OF raw recruits md
do II every time with comparatively
small loss To themselves Proper train
ing alone VIII reduce the death and
casualty rate one-thlrd Of what II 9TH
crsiSe would be. md right here IL an
unanswernhlc argument for universal
military training.
Our government has no moral right
10 force her men into war service
without properly training them for II.
To DO so Is simply murder, hence tho
frantic effort that Is now being inado
10 give her soldiers some training boz
fore they ARE sent TO the front II we
are 10 win this war. IL will take trained
laon 10 do Il. aud II uill tax. trained
men TO win any other vBr TINT may
come upon Us In the future II VIC
must hgh,. Let Us fight 20 via and not
10 lose
That's the stusf.- said Eillie.
Continuing. Uncie Dan said: Our
government hns expended about $780,
100000 to put UP cantoninsnts aud
training stations Ia order 10 train the
men called by the seiectiye draft
When these men are trained the trs.in-
tag stations should be Immediately
filled with younger men. say those In
their nineteenth year. 10 receive ax
months Of intensive military train
ing along the lines Of tho Chamberlain
bill. Ills will be OF Unreasonable
benefit TO them individually. II viii
do them more good than any other two
years Of their whole life: II will make
them strong. manly. sslf.rtlinnt. quick
to see and quick TO act II VIII equip
them for n successful life. In short.
II will rebuild American manhood and
viii also give the government q body
of trained men 70 drnw from In case
10 Is necessary to defend our flag aud
country. We must settle this question
OF universal military training imno-
dlntcly. otherwise these trimming camps
may be demolished. The adoption OF
universal military training will be no
tee to the world that from then on
we win be prepared to defend our
selves promptly and efficiently. and
this viii do more 10 keep ua out Of
war IN the future than anything else
we could do"
.Do you think. brother" eaid Mrs.
Graham. that thcro will ever be an
other war;
Il have no doubt about H." said
Uncle Dan. $50 long as men are
selfish, 40 long AZ nations are ambi-
uous 10 acquire territory. so long as
. lFlFaAAttOn HttSF-o a1A Att4Ettaa A4b4
room, so long rs there remains
scramble for weird trsdc---so long wars
will be. When the time comes thai
We reach the high plane for which We
hope and dream. when nll will recog-
nlxe the fatherhood OF God and the
brotherhood OF mnn. then. and then
only, will wars cease. When that day
comes doors will need no locks. banks
VIII need no vaults TO protect their
treasures, but TINT dny Is long way
on.
The only safe and sane plan Is 10
be able ~ defend ourselves ut all
times. Therefore. every citizen should
insist that senators and congressman
shnll provide for universal military
training. so that never again shall tho
country be caught 80 completely I'M
ready as this war found us. For
tnnntely. Ia this case. our enemy has
been held back. 50 we have had few /,
months In which to prepare. This ad-