Evening journal., 1917-06-08
rxpERIrNcE nR nRsERYArInN,

L EXPERIENCE is sometimes the only way to bring
n home truth, but often pays dearly for it.
says the Universal Military Training League The
foolish only from experience and they pay the
price; the wise learn from observation.
Our country entering the greatest war IN history
greatest in magnitude and by far the greatest in IS
involved AS never before, It is time for clear
thinking and oloso observation II DO the right
thing at the right time may billions OF money
and tens Of thousands OF lives. The following IS u
minating:
The Encyclopedia Britannica regarding the Franco
Prusaan of 1s7o-71 says that Germany during the
entire lost IN dead 2SOOO and France, 10000
more than nve to one) Why? The German soldiers
were highly trained, ably oficered and skfully led
while the French troops poorly trained and badly
handled. The French War Department at that time
saturated with politics and Jealousy; coopera-
ton and teamwork lacking. so France paid the
price She surrendered two splendid provinces to her
conqueror, paid indemnity OF a billion dollars,
suffered crushing national humiliation.
France learned her lesson, mark you. She did two
things She put in universal military training and she
put politics out and today she has an army that com
mands the admiration OF the world skllfully directed
by highly trained officers under most efficient gen
era staff France now employs expert knowledge and
not formerly, political bureaucratic stupidity.
Americans should learn from experience observa-
tlonf
England depended upon her grand fleet for protec-
ton, so She was unpfepared Tor tho Crisis 10
presented; she not ready and she has been and
is now paving the price II England had listened to
such capable advisers Lord Roberts and Lord Ktch
ener and had read history any purpose il she had
had open mind and had been obseryant, she would
have had millions OF trained men in Belgium in two
weeks instead Of "muddng along for nearly two
years with the volunteer system that broke down be-
fore getting real action and which cost her bill
lions Of dollars. Isn't that lesson for us?
We have embarked upon the colossal and far
reaching undertaking in history and that will
require the expenditure OF stupendous OF money
We must not ignore the experience Of the Allies; we
must profit by and not follow their mistakes There
two things that stand out conspicuously, which
must be done to win this and insure the
future Of country
1--we must greatly enlarge and strengthen the gen
eral staff of the army and Of the navy The most ex-
pert advice alone should prevail. can we do better
than to follow the French plang
2-We should adopt at system Of univer-
sal military training for the young men Of the nation
physically nt This plan to become operative
possible after the training Of the to be called
by the seectve draft The cantonments and training
stations being established will be admirably adap-
ted for permanent training quarters
The country is ready this legislation; the press
practically unanimous for it; the need for it
hrmed by the experience OF the entire world
We have no grounds to justify the assumption that
the present will be the last that after it ma
tons will Join in league to enforce peace or that
the plan would work if it werc agreed TO- War always
has been and probably always will be- SO long as man
kind remains selfish long national rights will have to
be defended by strong arm; hence the necessity for
universal military training
There is another for training that Is quite
compelling and that is that It will regenerate American
manhood. Thousands OF parents in all parts OF tho
country are at great expense sending their sons to
military academies because OF the splendid results Of
such training. Under the plan proposed this inval-
liable training would be furnished free II will break
down caste and make US real nation With the sons
OF the rich and the poor wearing the same uniform
and doing the same work. without distinction democ-
racy will be living reality and an empty pre-
This training will do more for our country after
the war the League contends than any other agency