The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-10
Universal Military Training
Plan Being Perfected by
General Staff
YEARS SERVICE,
EIGHT HOURS A DAY
Would Put 100000 Young Men in Cam
Every Twelve Months, Allowing 70
Fifty Per Cent Reflections - Bill Be
fore Congress at Enrly Date.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l0.-A plan
for universal military training is being
perfected b. the general staff of tn,
United States army and will soon b.
ready for consideration by Presiden'
Wilson. II is believed here that if tn
plan, when made public, receives popu
Ian Endorsement it viii be recommends,
10 congress by the President
The tentative project is understood
TO provide:
First-For the automatic enrolment
of American boys upon attaining tn
ag Of 10, after they pass the physiea
test.
seeond--A full year S services work
ing eight hours a day.
Third-Pat at the rate of 50 9
month or $50 year.
Fourth-The federal government to
pay all expenses for the years train
ing, including clothing, 500; food $92
lodging, $50; laundry, $50; medical at
tcntion, $40 and other incidental cx
penses. such as transportation ant
equipment.
Framing to be received by
about 100000 boys a year.
1t is estimated officially that about
100000 boys would reach the required
age annually. and it has been couclud
cd after very thorough study of the
problem, including survey of prac
ticcs obtaining in European countries
that about 80 per cent Of them would
be unable TO pass the test and would
therefore. be excluded. Military ex
pcrts and medical experts working il
conjunction with the council Of nation
I'll Tense assert that the countr,
would be startled if they knew thu
facts concerning the physical condition
OF its youth II is calculated that tn
general staff $ tentative plan woulC
on rcom. theS disabilities aud in tim
rid the country OF them.
In the camps the bows would toe I'M
der the best medical supervision. Fairl,
severe discipline would be tha rule
with full day IS work Summer au(
winter alike, aud ii is believed that il
| these conditions almost new race o
| Americans, would Ice produced, capabl
] of enduring any amount of physica
fatigue and other hardships, if occa
sion arose.
\ future Of the plan well calculated
il was said. to meet the objections o
persons who cent nd that il would b
unjust to take away from their labo
youths who support dependent relG
tives, is that providing pay for tn
boys. In report on the mobilizatio
Of tn, National Guard, prepared b
the executive committee Of the mayor
committee on national dcfcnsa tNe'
York the statement is made that:
''Wage statistics compiled by II;
tional and state commissions and unot
fetal investigating bodies, indicate a
average earning of 1919 year fC
youths of To- Therefore. if force q
$4,000 of - were TO be assemble'
tho annual los in productive capacit
would bc SIS. 0S7 900, or less than on
third of tn, loss caused by the receI
mobilization
Tho military affairs committee Of III
senate will probably report a bill pr
vidiug for universal military trgiuin
Senator Chamberlain chairman Of II
committee. said it had been radical
altered from the origi lal Chamba
lain universal training bill. intr
duccd at the last session, in a
! cordancc with sueg stions made durir
the hearings held by sub-committ,
since the beginning OF the year IN Il
,ours' of which many ranking sta
aud line officers Of the army, amor
them Generals Scott and Wood a.
distinguished educators, physicians al
civilian military experts have a
peartd.
Members Of the committee have 1
tie hope that the bin will have N
chance of success at the present st
sion Of congress. but they hope to u
it as a basis for o fight for univcry
training NJ the next session.