Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-14
GENERAL BRETT ENDORSES
UNIVERSAL TRAINING PLAN
Wants Compulsory Service for
Young Manhood OF Coun.
try After War.
GOOD FOR AMERICAN SPIRIT
Broadeus Provincial Minds and Gives
Young America Better Under
standing Of tho Wonderful Thing
Which Is tho Nation.
(By a stan Correspondence

tBy STAFF Correspondent
CAMP LEE, VA, December, Ia
Compulsory military training for the
young manhood OF the country at the
close OF tho present war, and Camp
Lee as one OF the permanent posts for
such instruction. was Endorsed by Bril-
sadicr-Generals Lloyd NJ. Brett. who is
In temporary command Of the Ei3htieth
Division, In the course OF an Interview
to-day General Brett Is man OF
long and varied military experience.
and his advocacy OF universal training
Is result Of his observation, which
has convinced him that II would be
best for tho country and for It's youth.
Such training would not create mill
tarism nor military caste in America,
is the opinion Of General Brett The
United states is far too peaceable 4
nation, he believes. and the prepara-
ton OF Its young men for the protcc-
ton OF the country would never turn
II into a lighting people. lie looks;
upon such training rs one Of great adj
vantage to the men, in that they will
be mado better citizens. as we'll as
better soldiers. the training infusing
them with the great American spirit
OF American ideas and American
ideals"
Aside from the military advantage
OF having trained youth for tho pro-
lection Of tho country, there Is also
the added advantage OF training the
men In methods Of American life, in
broadening their vision beyond their
present community interests and giving
them knowledge and understanding
OF tho country's principles and institu-
lions they never had before" said Cen
cral Erett. The men Will all catch
tho great American spirit of American
ideas and American ideals" he added.
AS an illustration OF how Il will
affect the life Of the country, the
officer continued. we can take the
situation hero at Camp Lee as an OK
ample Here wc have gathered men
from all sections OF Pennsylvania.
West Virginia and Virginia. members
Of every class and every status. y
great percentage OF them before COM
Ing 10 the cantonmeDt lived in COM
munities beyond which their interests
did not 60 and TO which their knowl-
edge Of things was confined.
picture TO yourself the revelation
in the mode Of living and the view OF
the outside world such men get when
they come TO training ca'np and
ininElc with men from all other sec
tions, OF varied occupations and DIT
ferent view.. They see the way the
men live here. they get wholesome food
prepared b. the experts OF the country
TO assure the physical man receiving
Just the proper amount OF the nuiri-
tive essentials for the development and
upkccp OF the bod:', and they absorb
the views, idea s aid opinionaHof their
TAKE HOME WITH THEM
BETTER UNDERSTANDING
when these men go home after
their period OF instruction at tn camp,
they Will take with them the ideas
OF the average mode Of living OF the
people. They Will sec wherein the
methods OF their communities are
wrong. and they will correct them ac-
cordingly; they Will realize that there
are Interests outside of the small COM
munity III which they have always re-
sided. aud from their narrow existence
there Will be a. beneficial broadening.
Particularly Will this be SO in the "a Sc
OF foreigners. who have adopted this
country. Thus you will see what adj
vantage 1t Will be to the welfare of
the nation aside from n military stand
That the training OF the men in
methods OF warfare Is necessary TO the
interests Of the country. General Brett
considered as agreed. lie believes that
'thc youth should go into training when
they are about nineteen years OF age.
as this Is the formative period in the
mans life. when he begins to develop
his strength OF mind and body. One
year OF such instruction would make
men healthy. OF enduring physique, and
better qualified to shoulder thei. re-
possibilities AS citizen and protector
Of the nation.
General Brett stated that he, had
long been Of the opinion that univer-
sal military training was essential to
the wcllhcing Of The nation and its
people. lie was sure that it would not
result in the growth OF militarism in
the United States. because Of the innate
pcacefulnesS of It's citizens. He loint :
cd out that had II been the nature of
the American people to form a military
caste In this country it could have
been just following the Civil War, but
instead of this the armies dissolved
and the men were disseminated over
the country, and absorbed in the regu-
lar life of the nation.
Camp Lee should by all means be a
post for training the young men at the
conclusion Of the war, General Brett
believes. 1t Is located In an unusually
desirable section. the ground being
suited in every respect for canton.