New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-27
Draft Inadequate as 1t Was
in 81, Asserts Head of
Loyal Legion
US. Depends on Youth
Security League to Campaign
for Passage Of Cham
berlain Bill

The youth of the land to-day must
come to the aid of their country, just
as they did in the Civil War, in the
opinion of Lieutenant General S. B. NJ.
Young, U. s. A. (retired), who is COM
mander in chief of the Military Order
of the Loyal Legion of the United
States. Bluntly, he declares that the
United States must depend upon the
young and unmarried men to fight its
war with Germany.
Simultaneously with the statement Of
General Young, issued yesterday, came
an announcement from the National Sc
curity League that it would immedi-
ately undertake an intensive campaign
for the adoption Of the Chamberlain
bill, which provides for universal mill
tary training.
The draft law is totally inadequate
to provide for the situation in which
the United States finds itself, General
Young thinks.
Draft Failed in Civil War
"In the Civil War; his statement
says, "the greatest army that had ever
been recruited in the history OF the
world up to that time was made up al
most entirely Of young men twenty one
years of age and younger. The exact
figures show that there were 2,159,198
men of twenty-one and 1.16l,a3 men
eighteen years of age and under in the
army at that time. In addition there
were S44,S91 boys under seventeen
serving their country
"Of men above the age of twenty-one
the age at which the government is
now trying to build up its new army
there were only G18,5ll who were
twenty-five years or over, and above
twenty-five years the total army reg
istratiOn amounted 20 1926"
The importance Of these figures AZ
the present time should not be over
looked. in the opinion of the army Off
Ger. "Our present draft" he states,
enrolled 100000 men. OF that num-
Der there will be available only 2,000,-
600. The first call of drafted men is
for $4,000. The second call is for the
same number.
when these two armies have taken
the field there will be left of this first
draft only $4,000 men. Now it is a
well established military principle
that three men are required in reserve
for each man on the firing line. Our
reserve force in the draft will not only
be inadequate, but will actually fall
short by 3,496.000 men OF providing
the number needed.
Younger Men Needed
"The solution of the problem must
be found By immediate legislation
which will compel the enrolment Of
men between the ages of nineteen and
tWcnty-one, not only this year, but
each succeeding year.
"The government was never more in
need Of these younger men than now.
nor was il ever better prepared TO
properly train them. At the cost of
several million dollars sixteen canton
merts, each accommodating 10000
men, have been equipped. They have
Teen built with an idea of permanency.
Let us take advantage of that fact"
In keeping with the statement issued
by General Young is the notification
sent out yesterday by the National Sc
curity League that it would renew
within a very few days its activity in
advocating universal military training.
I As part of this campaign the league
is preparing for a mass meeting
either in Madison Square Garden or
! Carnegie Hall, early next month. at
| which Senator Chamberlain, of Ore
gon, will be the principal speaker.
| Later, James NJ. Beck, formerly Assist
| ant United States Attorney General,
and other speakers will visit ten of
| the larger cities.