The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-24
ARGENTINE SYSTEM
Of TRAINING MEN
Large Force Always Available for
War, without Undue Hard
ships on AnN.

Washington. D. C. Jan. 23.--Com-
pulsory military training tn the Argen-
tine Republic is working out most
successfully. according to Col. Eduardo
Rayhaud. military attache Of the
Argentine embassy here col Ray
baud says that 1t is far superior to
any volunteer system which has ever
been tried, and does not work the
hardships attendant upon ordering
out militia in time Of impending
trouble
Argentina has had this compulsory
system since 1901, ana through II has
trained an enormous number of able
bodied men to serve with the colors
In time of war, for under the stringent
physical examinations provided under
the law man with the slightest de-
feet is excused from military service.
Such system as now exists in the
Argentine Republic can lie worked In
the United States, according to Col.
Rayhaud. who says that the condi-
tons in the two republics are similar.
Growing Interest in system.
There is growing interest in the
United States in the Argentine system,
and Col. Raybaud is kept busy OK
planning the system 10 army officers,
heads of colleges and other interested
III tStdbIISIlllk SohliG }llttlNdLS pQilGy
for the United States which would as
sure TO the country a largo force of
trained men who could be called to
the colors In time of war without the
heavy annual expense OF maintaining
large forces always with the colors
Argentina like the United States
today" said Col Raybaud. was faced
with the problem Of getting volunteers
to enlist in the army. My country
had the regular army and militia sys-
tenn now prevailing in the United
States. Something had to be done, so
In 1901. after Gen. Fable Retchieu,
senior general OF the Argentine mill
tary forces and then Secretary of War.
had had personal interviews with
every member of the Argentine Legis-
lature, he succeeded in having the
present law, OF which he is the author,
passed, and 1t has worked successfully
ever since"
The militia system was costly. he
said. and, while the young men of the
country were always willing to flock
to the colors in time of need. II was
not fair to them to take them away
from their families for long periods
OF military training.
Makes Iiberality Possible.
There are so many men available
under the present system that the
government can he unusually liberal
in making exemptions from military
service and still continue training a
very large force OF men, said the
colonel, whose son has served under
the present compulsory system.
Under the Argentine system the
training starts in the schools when the
boys reach twelve years. Until fifteen
they learn drills, and at that age they
41,a ~ ov,7 n n
ttce with 1t until twenty. Upon reach
ing this age their nmes are certified
| to the war office and selections are
made. Young men who are the main
supports of their families are excused.
One Year in the Army.
The young men selected are requir-
! cd to serve with the colors for one
year in the army or two years with
the navy. The man does not make
| the selection OF either force. The
heads Of the military departments say
what branch OF the service the man
shall go In. After the one or two years
Of training the man passes to the first
reserve, remaining until he Is thirty
years Of age and then he goes to the
second reserve. which is supported by
| the States. AT intervals he Is required
to participate IN maneuvers and to
continue rifle practice at the govern
ment ranges all over the country
"At all times there are approx
mately $4,000 officers and men in the
army and 10000 officers and men In
the navy. Abuot 5000 new men are
selected every year. The remainder
are volunteers, or what might be term
ed the professional soldiers, who have
taken the military profession as a
ltfe's work. These men are the Of
ficers and commissioned officers
who make up the training force for
the new men who come in annually"