The Washington herald., 1917-02-06
Army and Navy News
Best Service Coiumn In City.

The very latest data on the develop
ment of aeronautlcs in the United
States was placed in the hands of Presi-
dent Wilson yesterday afternoon. 1t
was in the form of a report by DR..
Charles D. walcott, secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution. and q mem
Der of the executive committee of the
National Advisory Commission for
Aeronautics. The report contains the
results of scientific Investigations that
have been carried on by army and navy
officers and the scientists who COM
pose the commission since its crea-
ton in March 1915. Details of Its
contents were jealously guarded.
Maj o. W. Bell. U. g. A., has been
detailed in the University of Chicago
in order to organize there a Reserve
Oficers Training Corps, to which will
be admitted all male students who are
physically qualified. Participation will
be optional. not compulsory.
Members of the training corps will
receive at least five hours a week of
theoretical and practical training In
military science and tactics. The theo-
:
prace military art. map reading, mill
tary law. organization, and other SUBJ
1ects or military character The
practical training will consist of in
fantry drills and minor field maneu-
vers. The government will issue uni
forms, rifles, and accouterments to
the training corps. Maj Bell will
reach Chicago in February, and
courses in military science and tactics
VIII be offered with the opening OF
the spring quarter at the University
The Reserve Offices Training Corps
have been organized by a general order
OF the War Department, issued last
september, which provides that any
college with an enrolment of at least
LOO male students may apply for a
regular army officer as Instructor. and
II at least 100 students enrol in the
training corps, the government will
issue uniforms. equipment, and arms
Students who have attended the
courses In military science will re-
ceiye, upon graduation, a commission
OF second lieutenant in the IJnited
States Army Reserve. humber OF
American colleges and universities
have already availed themselves OF
this opportunity.
Senator Chamberlain Oemocrat) chair
man of the Senate Committee on Militia ~
Affairs, Representative Kahn, rankina
Republican of the House Committee on
Military Affairs and Representative Rich.
ard Olney End. OemocraD, member o.
the House Committee on Military Affairs
have indorsed the suggestion of Presiden,
Joseph Letter, of the Army League, that
universal military training legislation
should be enacted at this session. with
other prominent members of the Senate
and House they believe that this should
be done to give the President real sup
port in the present critical nternationa]
situation.
Senator Chamberlain prefaced his state
ment that legislation for universal milf
tary training should be enacted at this
session by saying:
The present critical international sit.
uation accentuated the necessity for mill
tary preparedness. There is no better
and no more democratic way to accom-
dish this than through the instrurnen-
tanty of universal military training.
That war may develop in a night has
been proven by the war which is now
raging in Europe. That serious interna-
donal problems which might possibly
lead the United States to war NAV de-
Velop in night has been proven by tn.
last note of Germany and the message of
the President of the United States To
Congress in answer to 1t. While we al,
hope that war may not result from this
last condition goes without saying, but nu
one questions the delicacy of the situa-
ton and the dangers involved.
Il do not believe I'm a large standing
army. 1t Is contrary to American ideals.
but do believe in an efficient army and
trained citizenry from which an arn>
may be recruited in time of national
distress and danger. To be ever pre-
pared is the Surest means of maintaining
peace, and II the voice Of America is TO
have weight at the council boards of the
nations it must have the power to en-
force its opinions when this becomes
necessary, and in a democracy in the Ia st
analysis that voice must be the peonle's
voice and the arm to sustain It must be :
body of citizens reasonably well trained
to render service when service Is re-
quired.
Legislation along these lines ought t.
be enacted by Congress at the present
session"
"Of course. some legislation of this
character should be enacted at this ses-
slon," said Mr.. Kahn. However, MIR.
Letter and the other advocates of pre-
paredness should not lay the blame en-
tirely on Congress. Six weeks ago Gen
Scott, while he was appearing before the
House Committee on Military Affairs,
promised that report on the best sys-
tenn for universal military training should
be sent to Congress by the General stafr,
1 offered to introduce any bill the Gen,
eral Staff might prepare SO that tn,
question could be brought before the
House"
ARMY ORnERS