The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1917-12-07
W AR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number -Four
Military Training Necessary for Safety
and Defense.
Number -Four

war III the encyclopedia at school. We
found that in the war between Ger
many and France in 1S70-71, Germany
lost in killed and wounded $4,000 sol
dierS while France lost about six times
as many, and besides that she lost
every battle. We asked Professor Slo-
cum why this was He said that the
German army was highly trained and
ably commanded, while the French
soldiers were poorly trained; and that
their war department was honey
combed with jealousy and politics;
that the officers We're not much good,
and that's why France lost the war
and so many men. What do you think
about it, Uncle DAMP
We'll" said Uncle DAN professor
Slocum is right. BY inefliciency France
lost that war, together with two of
her best provinces-Alsace and Lor-
raine-and had to pay billion dol
lars indemnity money France today
learned her lesson by that sad eXpe-
rience, So she put IN universal military
training, and rs Il result, her soldiers
now know how 10 fight and how to
protect themselves. They are losing
less men III the var than the Germans.
France also put politics out of her var
department, So that expert authority,
Instead Of bureaucratic stupidity. now
directs the army. The result Is
France has enc Of the best and most
efficient armies every assembled, and
this shows What thorough training aHd
good leadership means in warfare.
This saved France in this crisis. as
well us the liberties of the world
'As var IS now conducted, there IS
no place Tor an unframed man. \
hody OF 10000 We'll trained soldiers
properly handled could defeat five
times their number Of raw recruits and
do it every time with comparatively
small loss to themselves. Proper train
ing alone will reduce the death and
casualty rate oHe-thirtf Of what it 9th
erWise would be, and right here is an
unanswerable argument for universal
military training.
Our government has no moral right
70 force her men into VAR service
without properly training them fer II.
To do 50 is simply murder, hence the
fFaatie effort that is now being made
Il give her soldiers some training be
fore they are seHt o the front. II We
are to win this war ii viii take trained
lien TO de il, AND il will take trained
men to win any other War that may
come upon Us IN The future. If We
must fight, let Us fight to win aud not
10 lose
That's the stuff" said Billie
Continuing. Uncle Dan said: Our
government has expended about S300.-
100000 to put UP environments and
training stations in order to train the
men called by the selectiye draft.
When these men are trained the train
ing stations should he Immediately
filled with younger men, say those in
their nineteenth year, to receive six
months OF intensive military train
ing along the lines of the Chamberlain
hill. This will be of unreasonable
benefit to them individually. 1t will
do them more good than any other two
years of their whole life; it Will make
them strong, manly, self-reliant, quick
to see and quick to act; it will equip
them for a successful life. In short.
il will rebuild American manhood and
will also give the government Il body
of trained men to draw from in case
1t is necessary to defend our flag and
country We must settle this question
of universal military training imme-
diately. otherwise these training camps
may be demolished. The adoption of
universal military training will be no.
tee to the world that from then on
We will be prepared to defend our
selves promptly and efficiently, and
this will do more to keep us out of
war in the future than anything else
we could do
"Do you think, brother" said Mrs.
Graham. That there viii ever be an
other war;
q have no doubt about it." said
Uncle Dan. so long as men are
selfish, so long as nations are ambl-
tious to acquire territory. so long az
population presses and demands more
re0m, So long as there remains a
scramble for world trade-so long wars
Will be When the time comes that
We reach the high plane for which we
hope and dream, when all Will recog-
nize the fatherhood Of God and the
brotherhood of man, then, and then
only, Will wars cease. When that day
comes doors will need no locks, banks
will need no vaults to protect their
treasures, but that day is long way
off.
The only safe and sane plan is to
be able To defend ourselves at all
times Therefore, every citizen should
insist that senator's and congressman
shall provide for universal military
training, So that never again shall the
country be caught 50 completely I'M
ready as this war found rs. For
tunately, in this ease, our enemy has
been held back, SO we have had a few
months ia which TO prepare. This adj
vantage probably will never come
again 1t is however our salvation