The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-26


is furnished boy-sised musket by the state and
| ammunition sufficient for target practice This
| work continues through the fifteenth year.
From the age Of sixteen to twenty, in addition
to the gymnastic work. marches and drills In the
schools. the Swiss boy Joins preparatory military
| organization. which continues and enlarges upon
| the work of the Cadet Corps. The musket used.
| however, after the age of sixteen is the regular
man sized musket. Two phases Of work en-
phaszed. Gymnastics for endurance and quckness,
target practice for skill in shooting.
In the twentieth year. in the summer time the
Swiss youth is given both literary and physical
examination If he fails in his literary examination
he has less chance for advancement in THE citizen
army. If he fails in his physical examination he
is prevented from taking the military training, or
prohibited until he becomes fit.
During this midsummer Of his twentieth year he
sixty days and receives training similar to
that given at "Plattsburg' camps.
This ends his military training He has become
man. and after his twenty first year Is n member
of the defense forces of the nation.
From twenty to thirty two thnes y6uhs men
form the first line of the army. but they
serve but sixteen days every year in arms
After thirtytwo the Swiss passes into the body
Of the reserve. and after forty he becomes men,
Der of the third line Of defence. His average serv
ice from twenty to forty-two is but nine days a
year.
States?
Has our pacific attitude. resulting in the volun-
teer system of training, been effective?
If not. which of the two other systems can be
adopted symbolizng the national attitude of our
people?
Shall continue present system. system
under which the best men in the world are made
inefficient defenders. shall We adopt the sys-
tenn Of the mitarist-the German system. or the
system of the Swiss, which results in national fit
nes?
1t is the undeniable duty OF every son and father
protect the mother and the home: to protect rs
material form from despoliation and destruction:
protect the sacred ideals of the family from in
suit and dishonor: and to protect the mother and
the sister from assault and violation.
The father who does not do So or who
breaches that such protection should not be given.
destroyer of the factors and ideals upon which
civilization is based.
is the inevitable duty Of every citizen to FRO
tect the home land. the motherland that cares for
him, that protects him, that guarantees to him life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The citizen who is unwilling to do So or the man
who breaches that the individual citizen should not
be compelled to give his life. if necessary to pro-
the material factors of the nation from despo
alton. to protect the integrity and unity OF his
motherland. and to protect its mothers and daugh-
ters from assault and rapine. may name himself
conscientious Objector" but in reality he is de-
stroyer Of the ideals upon which civilization is
founded an unwilling murderer of millions of his
fellow
Every patriotic citizen knows that some system
national defence is necessary every sane citizen
knows that present system is unsatisfactory and
Inefficient.
We must choose system Of defence.
This decision is the greatest problem before Amer
lea today.
It can be settled only by determining the basic
ma ional attitude which creates each system, and by
discovering which attitude exists in America.
What the basic attitudes existing in the
United States which must determine choice?