Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-03
Compulsory Training
For National Defense.


Face to face with which it has done every
thing honorabIy possible to avoid but whicn yer
man ruthlessness is thrusting upon It, the oni'eu
States must consider more broadly than ever oe'0io
the basic question of national defense The criSi'
ar5. rs with no clearly defined policy in this matter
.1cant that we have begun building strong navy.
For land forces. we have yet to adopt plan 'n"'
will proye dependable and adequate and just IL
49, rstion,s interests are to be protected and its
honor upheld il its duty and destiny as great le
public are to be fulfilled it must take steps to make
its man-power count swiftly and enectuauy IN uays
=, ,sriI like those now deepening about us.
TboughtfuI Americans coming more ana
more To the conviction that the only way TO TINS as
surance lies through compulsory military training
of all the able-bOdied young men IN Ihe idnu'
Questions of detail, such the exact ages "llhlh
which training and service should be required and
the exemptions if any. which should be granted are
for competent authorities to determine. But Ihe
broad principle of this system should commend it
self to the Judgment and enlightened selfnterest as
we'll as TO the patriotism of everyone who has the
countrvs welIbeing at heart. Compulsory military
training is the only dependable plan, the only ade-
innate pIan the only Just and democratic plan or de-
veIoping and maintaining a. national defense re-
serve.
II used TO be said that raw recruit could be
made into a fairly competent soldier by six months
of steady training But in the present war England
found after costly experience, that 1t saved ootn
time and life to lengthen the period to year at
least. and some high officers now urge year and a
half Sending unprepared men into battle is more
than foolish: it is criminal. Modern warfare is
nothing if not scientific 1t is scientific from the OPP
Grafton of an entire army down to the minute details
of the individual soldiers duty. Courage alone no
more makes soldier than strength alone makes a
ball player Patriotism alone no more could create
an efficient army within thirty days than it could
build a battIeshp in thirty minutes. Yet, to send
undiscipIned uninstructed recruits against a sea-
soned foe is simply sending them TO slaughter; and
the crime would rest upon the soul Of the nation
that made such sacrifices needful. If, then we are
TO be prepared in national defense, dare not wait
until danger is laundering at our doors. We must
have an efficient and adequate reserve force on
which to depend for instant service.
Compulsory military training will establish and
maintain such force, and it will do with fairness
TO all concerned. II will protect the rights OF the
individual no less than those of the nation. Under
the volunteer system. the first to enlist in hours of
peril are the flower OF the eountry's youth. They
take all the hazards, endure all the hardshps
der all the service and then too frequently hap
pens return to civil life to find themselves at a
stayed snugIy at home. There cheering evil
dences that Americas business conscience is more
sensitive and discerning on this point than it once
was; most of the National Guardsmen who enlisted
when war threatened with Mexico assured
of their former positions or of new employment
when they resume their wonted affairs. But the in
herent injustice of having patriotic few shoulder
all the duties of the Stacking many ought be abol-
ished.
Compulsory military training, besides being a
fair and dependable plan OF national defense, will
give the rank and file of American youth new phys
zeal and moral stamina and broader, keener con-
ception OF what they their country. A year
with the colors absorbing the health OF outdoor life
and the lessons Of efficient service and sef-control
would make stalwart bodies and staIwart characters
out Of thousands who pass into the years and
responsibilities of manhood with little or none of
esanhoods true fiber. 1t would make interested re-
sponsive citizens out OF thousands who now grow
up with merely the vaguest ideas of what the obli-
cation OF citizenship means. 1t would put a sense
of Fellowship and real Democracy into thousands
who grow up with snobbness or class prejudice
in their hearts It would be indeed a generous
schooling in equality and fraternity OF service to
common country and a common flag.
The fear that compulsory army training would
lead to militarism is merely a hobgoblin of super
pacihst minds. 1t has not led to militarism in demo
In democratic France IL cannot produce militarism
in Democratic France. 1t produce militarism
IN the United States until the American people be-
come utterly changed in heart and mind from all
they have been and all they are. Compulsory mill
tary training is safe for free institutions as it
essential to national security and wholesome to
national character. It ought to be adopted at the
earliest feasible time
People who live within a stones throw of each
other shouldn't throw stones.