New-York tribune., 1918-03-26
Adoption of Universal Ser
vice Would Have Found
Nation Ready
Warns People That
End Is Not in Sight
Great Deal Accomplished,
but Preparation Was
Too Long Delayed
IStaf Correspondence


WASHINGTON. March 25.-A peace
sueh as this country is fighting for
could have been obtained before now
had the Jrited States been prepared for
war BY having universal military train
ing. Senator Harry f. New, of Indiana,
declared IN the Senate to-day in advo-
eating the universal training measure
AS one American who is deeply i'm
PRESSED with the tremendous import of
the existing military situation and de-
srous OF doing everything necessary
to save it. and not only to bring sue
tess 10 our cause but to avert great
national disaster. am persuaded that
now is the time Of all times when uni
versal military training should be put
into effect said Mr.. New. Zach day
that passes makes it more conspicuously
apparent that the United States en-
tered upon this war most wofully un-
prepared What we are to suffer bv
reason OF this failure cannot be fore
told or overestimated.
Could Have Forced Peace
Had universal military training
been adopted three years ago, when il
was suggested to this body, and been ac-
eompanied by substantial industrial
preparation, this country would have
been II condition to take such part in
the var upon Its entrance as a belliger-
ent that we would before this have
been able 10 force q peace wholly salts
factory and creditable to the Omitted
Il,
lapse in Northern Italy. no Russian
debacIe The saving in life and money
would have been beyond measure
Had we earlier devoted our energies
toward preparation for war, rather
than 10 issuing pronouncements of
terms on which we would make peace.
we would now be much nearer the day
when our voice as to terms would
command more attention. But objec-
ton sentiment. hesitancy combined to
prevent anything that even approxi-
mated preparation. with a result that
Is nov apparent appal!ingly so. The
people should know the truth. II they
are 10 be told anything. they should
be told the facts and not half-truths.
Within the last few days have seen
statements given out from high places
for which the best that can be said is
that they are perillously misleading.
Anything that tends to keep the peo-
pie from realization of the truth is
IN my opinion a huge mi stake. | have
unlimited faith IN our capacity as a
nation, if we but know our true con-
dit!on. are not made overcontident
through failure 10 realize it and if we
but know the extent and character of
the task before us
Great Deal Accomplished
IL is true that during the last year
great things have been ACCOMPLISHED.
T. is true we have built great docks in
rance. miles upon miles of them: that
we have built a great railroad system
over there; that we have built Il great
ystem of cantonments at home and
nave recruited an army Of 100000
men, tha- we have trebled our navy;
that we are preparing. still preparing,
great equipment of airplanes; that we
have adopted 4 machine gun which we
believe superior 10 any yet devised and
which we are now ready to produce in
Quantities; that VIC have built great
shipyards, and are now more or less
ready 10 build ships. and that we have
done and are doing many other things;
but while this has been TCing or Ger
many has subjugatcd half continent
q. east temporarily.
~ am fully aware of the Widespread
objection OF seeing the young men
.he bovs-go to war No one regrets
the necessity of it more than ! do. But
there are other awful things to con-
template. and while We are rejecting
on the one we should consider the al
,ernat'ves.'
Senator New quoted figures to show
,hat 2159, 7Ss boys under twenty-onc
iouEht .n the Northern army in the
Ci.. War and of these l.t5l, ,438 were
eighteen or under. The same proper
ton of youths, lie SAID, undoubtedly
fought with the Confederate forces.
Bot this amendment would not send
cur boys into active service until they
are t@entg-one," he explained. 1T
moio,9 provides that they shall be
trained and prepared for service at
time and manner prescribed by the
Pre- eent L. VIII be urged that the
country boys cannot be spared from
The farm. This IS, At least, partially
me- BY the discretion invested in the
President as 10 tae time of year and
length 81 period during which they viii
Dc called Tor tIaining.
Our intention IS TO win this war for
our elyes. 10 pre- erye this nation for
generations % come, 10 save this demo
cratic republic from the greatest men
rF fic III