Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-15
ARGENTINE SYSTEM
OF TRAINING MEN
Large Force Always A,niinhic for Wnr.
Without Undue iinrd-
ships on Any.

WASHINGTON. january II. -- com.
ruis"ry military training in the Ar.
s"nti"c Republic is WORKING out mos,
TucccSsfully, according to Colonel Ed
mard" l;aybaud. military ;ttaclc Of tho
Argentine cmhnssy here. Colonel Ray
baud says that ii i. far s,pcrior I,
amy volunteer system which has ever
boon tried. and docs not work. IN,
hardShip% attendant upon ordering ont
mil't'a IN time OF impending trouble
Argentine has had ibis compulsory
system since i?o1. aud through IL has
trained an enormous number of able
bodied men To serve with the ,olura
III tim" 81 war. for under the STRINGENT
physical examinations provided under
:hr law - man with III" slightest de-
feet - excused from military service
Such Il system us now exists in tho
Argentine Republic can be worked i'm
The United states. according 10 Colonel
Raybaud, who SAWS that the conditions
in ia" tw" republics are similar.
Thcr" is growing interest in tho Cnit-
al states In the Argentine system. and
Colonel l;aybaud Is kept busy explain
ing the system To army officers. heads
"f colleges and others Interested in
establishing " sound military policy for
ia" United States which would assure
." The country "a largo force Of trained
mon who could he called I" tho cOiors
IN time Of war without the heavy am
nual expense uf maintaining large
forces always with the c"lors.
"Arscn,ina. like the United states.
tn-day." ~nid colonel Iinybaud. was
faced with tho problem Of rcttiu. vol
untccrs To enlist in the army. My
country had the regular army ana
militia system now prevailing in tho
United states. Something had to be
done. So i'll 1901. after General Pablo
Ecichicu. senior general OF The .\rScn-
tin" military forces. and then sccrc-
tary Of war. had had personal inter
views with every member Of the Ar
ecntinc Legislature. he succeeded In
having tho present law. OF which he
Is the author. passed, aud II has work
cd successfully ever since.
The militia system was costly. he
said, and while the young men al III"
country were always willing to nuck
to tn" c"lors III time Of need, i, was
not fair 10 them To take them away
from their families for long periods
of military training.
There are :" many men available.
under tho prcs"n, system that 'he
government can he unusually liberal
in making exemptions from military
service and sin continue training =
very large fore" of mem. said the
colonel. whose son has served under
III" prcsen, compulsory system.
Under tn" Argentine system tn"
training starts in the schools when tn.
boys reach twelve years. Until fifteen
they learn drills. and at ;hat age they
take up the rifle and continue 1" pgIc-
tiCc with il until twenty. Upon reach
ing this age their names are certified
IL the War Office and selections are
made. Young mcn who arc the main
supports If their families are excused
The young iurn selected arc required
To serve with the coiors for ono year
in the army or two years with tn"
navy. III" man does not make tho g.
lection Of either force. The heads uf
the military departments say what
branch ~ til" service tn" man shall
go in After the one az W." Years Of
training the man passes TO the first re-
serve. remaining until he is thirty Years
OF age. and then he goes 10 the second
reserve which is supported by the
states. NJ intervals he is required to
participate in maucuvers and 10 con-
timu" rifle practice at tho government
ranges all over the country.
AT all times there arc approximately
-. 600 officers and men in the army AND
10000 officers and men in tn" navy.
About 5000 new men are selected
every year The Remainder are volun-
tccrs. or what might be termed tn"
professional soldiers who have taken
tho military profession a. lifc's
work These men arc tn" officers and
nuncommissiouc officers who make up
tn" training force for the Now men
WHO come in annually