The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-29
ICE OF THE WHEELING 1NTEL11GEEcER.
WHEELING 1NTE1h1aEFcER
THE ARGENTINE SYSTEM OF milf ARY TRAINING
It Can Be Adopted to American Preparedness Needs
FREDERIC L. HUIDEKOPER
Founder Of the Army League and One of the Founders Of the
Mali Security League

SerNc-in Ot0pl "pIuS' INC .. otINn 10
one of. limited coascription. The law
VIZ: j Those physically unfit for serv-
ice; <2) the son Of dependent widows
or AGED. intirm and dependent fathers;
(3) the grandson Of q dependent
grandfather or grandmother; (D
brother who is the support OF orphaned
or infirm brothers or sisters; 90
when two or more brothers are called
out in the same contingent, the elder
lis exempted Tin case one brother IS
already serving the younger brother
is likewise eXempted); t6) officials of
the Argentine government or It's prov
inces, the governors Of the national
territories and their secretaries are
exempted during their term OF office;
% the clergy and clcrglcal students
iof all denominations. All men legally
exempted are required 10 make
yearly payment for twenty-five years
as their contribution to the national
defense. The first year this pay
ment amounts tn s11.00. but reduc-
ton is made during the successive
wears. until only ninety cents arc re-
Quired annually during The last i've
years.
Upon presenting himself at the
appointed rendezvous, the recruit is
duly registered and Is given an en-
rollment book containing a detailed
description OF himself for the purpose
of identification. This book must be
presented at the polls III order that
the man may vote 1t Is interesting
10 note that since this system was
adopted Argentine elections have been
absolutely honest-which was not the
case before.
The military organization 10 on a
territorial basis The country Is d.
vided into five military regions DEEPEN
dent upon the density Of the popula-
ton, which in turn determines the
number of recruits to be furnished.
Each region forms the place of mobil.
ization for division, and Is further
divided into zones, regimental dis
tricts and battalion districts for the
purpose OF organization, recruiting
and mobilization. The standing army
constitutes the skeleton On which is
built The first line OF national defense
lin time Of war, and extreme care Is
exercised to locate its forces at points
accessible TO railways and highroads,
so as 10 insure rapid mobilization. In
the event OF war the men who have,
most recently finished their service
are .the first TO be called 10
the colors, and SO on successfully.
The standing army of The Argentine
whose population numbers 100000
is composed of about $4,000 officers
and men The total fighting forces
modified into the first line" is about
gal. 2-Argentine System Of Military
rolment book containing detained
100000. with 1000 reserves. Theor.
etically. the Argentine could mobilize
more than u million and a half men,
but the effective war strength would
probably not exceed 420 900, of whom
more than half have had military
service.
To encourage craftsmanship civil
ian rifle clubs have been organized
under government auspices. OF these
there are over 10 officially recog-
niZed, with voluntary attendance
per annum exceeding 10000. Over
the pavilion of each target range
hangs sign with the significant in
scription: Here one learns to defend
tho fatherland."
Special courses Of military instruc-
ton are given in the national college
and universities. With the object Of
providing reserve officers. Every ef-
fort is made to inculcate patriotism
into the school children, with the re-
suit that the young men present them
selves with interest and enthusiasm
when their turn arrives. 1t is signifi-
cant that the percentage of young
men who offer themselves for mill
tary service is higher in the Argen-,
tine than in Germany
The army in the Argentine is today
intimately bound up with the indi-
vidual and national life, and through
out the land prevails the sentiment
that no man should bn permitted to
vote who is not qualified 10 defend
his country - sentiment which we
Americans would do we'll 10 adopt