The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-01-01

some sort Of legislation bearing on uni
versal military training In the United
States. And it is becoming more and
more apparent that there may be
more than one bill presented to con-
gress to provide for the establishment
of one system or another Of military
preparation for the youth of America.
Recently there has been more talk
of such legislation. Just how far the
American people win be willing to go
in this matter not even the best judges
can possibly know.
President Wilson and various MEM
bers Of his cabinet, not to mention
high officers of the army and navy,
ere almost a unit in the opinion that
the voluntary plan Of obtaining re-
cruits has been, up to date, a failure
and that some program of universal
military training will be best for the
country in the long run.
Various bills providing for universal
military training are in process Of
making. One is being whipped into
form by persons identified with the
Universal Military Training league
whose headquarters are in Chicago,
but whose hackers know no state lines
and are not restricted by party or
sect. II win be some time before any
bill is in shape to go before the house
or senate, but, in the main, the princi-
pal features can now be presented.
Follow the Swiss Plan.
The idea seems to be to pattern the
United States plan after the Swiss
system of defensive military training
and preparation. Experts are laying
stress upon the difference between
military training plan looking to the
defense of a country and enc contem-
pating aggression. Some experts hold
that the Swiss plan is an ideal one
from a defensive standpoint and the
German system quite typical Of one
concerned not only with defensive but
aggressive military measures.
Howard Fl. Gross, president of the
Universal Military Training league,
has just finished visit in Washing
ton, where he conferred with numer-
Gus officials, including Secretary of
War Baker. Mr. Gross is careful to
emphasize the Importance Of a CON
seryative system Of military training
as against one that might invite op-
position from persons who see a mill
taristic bogey in every preparedness
suggestion.
In Switzerland recently the entire
Swiss army, including all the re-
serves, was put on the Swiss border
within forty-eight hours" said Mr.
Gross. ''The Swiss border minus
Swiss soldiers would have been quite
as inviting as the Belgian border had
been. In mountain pass and on plain
Swiss soldiers who had been accus-
toned to drilling and handling a fire.
arm since boyhood were gathered by
the hundreds of thousands. Each
Swiss is what one would call in this
country "a dead shot Mobilization OF
these dead shots, In short, spelled the
complete safety of the Swiss republic
from the warning nations of Europe.
Switzerland, however, is not mill
taristic country, but quite the re-
verse"
Every Lad to Train.
As outlined at present, one of the
bills providing for universal military
training win contain the following inn
portant items:
Every lad between the ages of eight
cen and twenty-three shall be subject
to military training unless he is phys
ically or mentally deficient.
In the nineteenth year the boy must
go to the nearest training camp, where
he will be received by Uncle Sam and
given several months of rigorous train
ing in military maneuyers, handling
Of arms and the science Of warfare.
The next year the boy must also re-
port for similar duty, but his term
of training will not be so prolonged as
the first year.
Capable United States army and ma
val officers will be in charge, and the
boys will be taught discipline, obedi-
ence, care of their bodies, upbuilding
of the physique, camping-out meth
ods, besides the regulation drill and
target practice.
The government will pay all bills
from the time the boy starts for the
training camp to the time he gets
home again.
Previous military experience or
school training shall count as a credit
to any entrant; that is, an entrant
having had previous instruction in a
military school will be informed BY
the government that his term of mill |
tary training has been reduced GER
tain number of weeks or months on
that account.
Use Military Camps.
Training in military camps, such as
the Plattsburg camp, or in the state
guard also win be given consideration.
United States officials will pass
upon all entrants and it will be their
dictum on who is fit or unfit.
There will be no fayoritism-rich
and poor, black and white will have
to take the training.
A plan is afoot to inject into the
hin a provision making it unlawful for