Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-19


 AMOS PfNCFIOT. For American Committee on War Fi-
 nance.
 New York. April r. 1917.
 Universal Training.
 MT. Editor: have observed this war at short range, having dodged shells upon the European front and having visited the camps, munition works and hospitals of England and the dead. the widows and orphans, and the ruins not only of buildings but of broad fields which can never again be tilled-aone of the poTap and cir eumstance of war but all of its hor- TOT.
 Again and again I have heard the remark If England had only listened to Lord Roberts. If we had only penedt"
 I quickly became convinced that what 1 saw was no more the result of war than 1t was the result of the paeifist. Noble buildings which were the work of the imagination Of the ancient artist are now in condition which may truly be said to be the work of the lack of imagination of the modern pacifst-/ His smooth fat hand has wrought as much destruc- tion as the mailed fist of the kaiser
 Since returning from battle scar red Europe I have travelled our own land from north to south and from east to west. Everywhere I find pros perity. but there is lacking that pres ence Of a national soul (which may bo nothing but the sense of a common unselfish purpose) which pervaded my days and nights in Europe. It lies in people that feeling of a common cause which alone will give us strength, which will bind the rich to the poor and the poor to the rich and make lor, 4f we have a truly great country not be- cause of it's resources but because of it's ideals and because we have the strength to mako those ideals some thing more than idle dreams.
 We only value that which has cost us something. Let every young man give but his little share of time and work to the United States and he will become a true patriot The plan pro, posed is so simple. so small in cost and so immeasurably great in value that it should not be necessary for a single man to raise his voice in its favor. Even if no emergency were now apparent. universal training should be adopted without delay for the unifyfng effect that it would bring to our people, and even if we could see in it no seeh spiritual benefit it should be adopted to straishten the backs and fill out the chests of our Slouching boys and to teach them the first principles of hygiene.
 There can be but little doubt that our congressman are individually in favor of this measure, but perhaps they are not sure of the attitude to- wards it of those whom they repre- sent In this case it may be suK- gested to them that they visualize the supporters and the opponent Of uni versal service. In one rank are seen those whose faces are bright with knowledge and ennobied by the desire to serve. In the opposing ranks are the unenlightened. those who have never felt the thrill of a common cause and who have no sympathy either above or below themselves in the social scale.
 Shall we permit this fair land to fall an easy prey to the wild beasts which have devoured Belgium and married all of western Europe? In later years shall one of us say to an- other That ruined church shows the hand of Villard''-That crippled man makes me think of Pinehot?" Save us from the work of these architects of destruction, you our representatives
 Yours truly.
 THOMAS ROBINS, Secretary. Naval Consulting Board
 New York, April 10, 1917.