Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-28


gold braid or heard a single oficor
curse. or seen drunken soldier. q faro
wheel. or bawdy-houso-thoso things
so long associated with military life
In the popular mind-one can only
speculate. Surely tho folks at home
are going to get few new Ideas about
soldiers life. and 1 imagine that
hereafter there will be much less said
about the tyranny Of tho military caste
and the dangers OF militarism than
formerly. Ten years from now Con-
gress Will be composed Of former citi-
zen soldiers, more eloquent in their
silent recognition of facts than have
been certain windy orators with their
theories and their silly claptrap in
the past. Statesmen OF the latter do
scription won't have much chance In
debate with citizens who have bled
on the real battle fields Of democracy.
The Anglo-saxon has been long In dis
covering that liberty demands a price
In human service along with the other
taxes Of government. and having
learned at last by bitter experience the
faulty OF their past neglect, Will hcnce-
forth not seek to postpone tho in
evitable sacrifice and magnify the price.
THEY WILL NOT PROVE
Is 1t probable that the men of the
National Army will prove TO be in
oinerent soldiers. however unwilling
IY they abandoned their homes and
civil yocations? Not only is II improb-
able. but is impossible. under tire cir
cumstances rs we'll.
Here Is what they had to say. This
business is ono We had no liking for.
1 to II was up to some one. and the
us left some one dependent on nv.
we mated to leave them. but We came
away with clear conscience. The
folks Mt home know we didn't aban-
don them. They don't blame us one
oit. HOW about tho follows who stay
Gu al nome! We'll they are just as
ready 70 come when needed az we
were, and no ono can throw or on
them for not coming until ordered to
do So"
In that reply-more or less typical Of
tho mnny-is embodied tho whole phil
Iosopny or compulsory military Ger
vice by selective draft Under that
uuIy democratic system tho citizen
VINO stays at homo and the ono who
joins the colors both stand before God
and man with clear conscience-th.
one has neglected no duty; the other
has performed his duty.
But In what manner has tho gov
eminent discharged it's duty to those
whom IT has called to maintain Il in
arms? Has st demanded OF those who
nave responded 20 its call. and of
these whom these men have loft at
home. any sacrifice that might have
been avoided? Has II dragged thou
sands OF patriotic youths from their
homes and families only to let them
perish from disease and ignorance ?
lIaa It neglected any measure that
IN r. TIT
cessnry facri'ce of life and health
and wealth by the people?
SANITARY STANDARDS
ON MODERN PLANE
Viewed from tho military STANDPOINT
II has not. There is no city in the
world with population OF 40. 600 peo-
pie where the sanitary standards can
compare with those OF these great Ma
tonal Army environments. There never
were created before such living con-
ditions for communities so large-con-
ditions vastly superior TO those to
"hich the average person Is accna-
toned in civil lifo No civil commun.
ity as whole can boast Of an equal
degree Of physical welfare. II fore
money can provide in advance for the
preservation OF the health of men.
then our citizen soldiers arc safe In
one respect at least, for in the arrnv
THIS ts the heyday OF doctors and pro.
n1hition. Well may the soldier cry:
l'octors. doctors everywhere. nor any
drop 10 drinkw
Verify there are thousand, OF doo-
tors. soldier OF the olden time who
perchance visited one Of these can
comments would no doubt think that q
te" soldiers were CHARTERED there to
guard the doctors. and the infirma-
RES. and the hospitals, and tho am
puiances. and. perhaps. the trained
nurses. / heard man remark thar
II any more doctors entered RI. nodis
cal reHerve corps the people would all
JOIN the army. and conscript the SOL
diers to face the dangers of civil uf.
ana yet the cry goes up for still more
doctors. The supply nowhere meets
the demand.
There was time whom tho doctor
win MS black bottle was deemed a
scourge by the soldier. His preten
slons won him no favor whatever in
the army. and 1t was always a huge
Joke when stray bullet pinked a
medical man. In those days he was
wholly noncombatant. But now all
is different, for doctors not only slay
but are slain in large numbers. fact
which greatly elevates them in tho
estimate OF the other soldiers. Indeed
they are hghting while the ordinary
s.
A MOSQUITO. nea. bedbug or an ordi-
nary old grayback. which at ono time
merely diverted the soldier with his
antics in the seam Of his shirt, hasn't
even q lighting chance with an army
Doctor In this great war. and Sheri-
dams crow was flabby old sourmand
compared to the army fly these days.
RISK BEING MURDERED
ny OWN OFFICERS
The soldiers In our former wars did
not perish from disease only. Those
who did not die in their training camps
the percentage OF those who did and
those who did not being about fifty
ffty-ran grave risk OF being muir
dered by their own officers. In this
war those who are not required to at
tend and guard the doctors and hos
pitfalls at home may be killed In bat
tie. but they will not BIO willfuliy sac
rifced to the ignorance of their lead
ers. II foresight. precautIon, military
skill. and money can provide In ad-
vance for the preservation of the lives