El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-31
AMERICAS NEW ARMY WILL
UPHOLD THE BEST TRADITIONS
z =
N ARTILLERY

N-ARTuLERY sergeant writes to The Herald derid-
a ing the who viii compose the new national
army and threatening the seective draft with
harsh treatment when the army gets its hands On them
He to look upon the seleCive draft who VIII
form the national army sackers, towards or men
without patriotic principles, dragged INTO service BY the
nape Of the neck There something OF that feel
ing in England when volunteering fizzed out and the
draft was resOrted TO- Yet EngndS new army mas fought
with the courage and with much success any Of
the old regiments the volunteers They all
par Veterans Of the old standing army what few
remain The volunteers the drafted all
equality. They are the British army and that IS all there
IS to II.
As for the eHgibles for the draft in this country,
they typical and representative young citizens There
may a few black sheep among them, few OF
little soul very few towards. But class they have
mad what they considered good for remaining out
of the service until called IN. Some felt very strongly
against the policy Of volunteer system and favored the
draft In many cases these were obligations of one kind
another which needed to be arranged before entering the
army It IS very fortunate for the country that they held
back they did.
If every eligible had rushed TO colors when the
opportunity offered business would have been para
lyzed, the country flat its back and the army gasping
for air The army would have been buried under
anche Of recruits 1t could not clothe, feed house. drill
for If sick supply with ammunition. The
president his cabinet, the department and army Off
surely understand this thoroughly
The department is having just all It do take
Of the as they come-to equip, feed and train
the recruits for the regular army and for the $4,000
officer candidates IN the training camps; TO equip, then
transport and now supply the expedonary forces under
Maj Gen J. J. PeTshng; to equip the augmented national
guard Who BY the way have been notified that requlsl
lions for equipment cannot be fed and finally,
prepare equipment for the new national army.
The national army Is TO be called about September
Why? Not out Of regard for the convenience Of the men;
certainly Of regard for the needs Of the firing
line which pressing but because the department
take Of that army any 1t viii be doing
well to have the IS environments built and the
Of clothing food and other supplies ready by that time
Finally, any prejudice against the selecve draft
foolish We all people fighting toward
end, all against the enemy Whether enlisted
two weeks ago or is called into service by the draft to
norrow viii be forgotten year from There viii
be too much bloody business IN the interval for TO
remember the trifng detail Of mans enlistment date
And IN the meantime the national army VIII have
trained and VIII be fighting in the trenches. And
the Fifth the 18th the 18th Field artillery, all
three VIII be helping make the bsrage fire to the
275th infantry NEW national army in its advance.
And when the whistles shril along the line and the
sergeants give the word up and over the troops Of the
national army VIII 60 over the top readily advance
steadfastly and fight the trenches of the enemy
calamity as Americans have ever done.
The artillery sergeant and all the CONS who VIII
have the drilling Of the national army squads, should
member this: It doesn't matter much how man gets into
the service It Is what he does IN It and how he
ont Of it that really counts.
If war cIeanses part of the world greed sen
suay extravaganza and wastefulness If It stiTs and
pands mems souls and brings them back TO purity and
simplicity and exalted motives, It viii be worth its terrible
cost