New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-24
General Officers Say 1t Is
Necessary to Produce
Citizen Soldier
GEN. WOOD FAVORS
SHORTER PERIOD
Twelve Months Drill Will
Be Recommended to
Congress
fTnm The Tribune Duran

tTrun The Tribune Bu,rsu.l
Washington, Jan. pa year OF mill
tary training is the minimum that
should be provided for under any sys-
TEN that is adopted by Congress, ac-
cording to the report Of the General
Staff of the Army, which is now being
prepared under instructions given by
the Secretary of War. II there is any
reduction in this period of training,
Congress must assume the responsible
ity.
The greatest care is being exercised
in the preparation of the report, which
the military authorities regard as the
most important ever submitted to Con-
gress by the General Staff since its or
ganization. A rough draft OF 1t has becn
submitted TO all of the department COM
manders for review, and all OF. the gen
cral officers, il is understood. have been
consulted. There are some dlfePnces
of opinion among the experts, but the
majority of high ranking officers hold
that one year is The minimum training
period in which to produce an efficient
reserve citizen soldier.
Major General Leonard Wood, former
Chief of staff, now commander of the
Eastern Department, while admitting
that the one-year period would be
ideal, is of the opinion that shorter
interval Of intensified training would
be sufficient. Some of the general Of
fcers favor longer period
Wood Favors Shorter Period
General Wood decided for a shorter
period on account of the remarkable re-
suits obtained by the intensified train
ing at Plattsburg. However, the achieve
ments at Plattsburg have not convinced
the members of the General staff that
it would be safe to recommend shorter
period of training than one year. 1t is
insisted that the intelligence of the
Plattsburg students is above the aver
age of the country.
Emphasis will be placed in the Cen
eral Stats report upon the Importance
of requiring all young men to take
training or serve under the same condi-
tons. II is understood that the provi-
sion of the Mosely bill by which credit
is given for training at colleges is not
looked upon with favor by the General
staff. 1t is insisted that to be demo-
cratic the poor boys, who are not able
to attend colleges or even high school,
should not be required to take a longer
period of training with the colors than
college students. All should be required
TO serve in the field with the colors un
der the same conditions, and for the
same period.
Europe Requires Longer Training
Military authorities are not agreed as
to whether the training should be taken
in one period of twelve months, or ex-
tended through term of years. The
General staff will have a great guam
tity of data from the European war to
support its contention. IL is stated
that England is not placing her soldiers
on the firing line until they have been
given an intensified training of fourteen
months.
Before the war the training period in
France was increased TO three years,
and the minimum in Germany, except
for graduates from lyceums, was two
years.
In shaping the military policy of the
country the General Staff is proceeding
on the theory that the training periods
of the larger powers should be a de-
termining factor
This policy is pursued by the naval
General Board in determining the char
acter of the armament of the fleet, and
for the same reason it should be fol-
lowed in deciding what should be the
training of citizen soldier. Three
months training or anything less than
a year would not be considered suf-
fcisnt by the military authorities of
the greater powers. If this country is to
impress the other nations with its de-
fensive power, the General Staff insists
it must give its reserve army a period
of training sufficient to produce a SOL
der.