Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-01-23
WAR TALKS
BY UNCLE DAN
Military Training Necessary for Safety
and Defense.
Number -Four

!, !" - - sAAo SASySAopeuld at 6Cil0Ol. we
FOUND that in the war between Ger
many and France In 1901, Germany
lost In killed and wounded 28OOO 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
e German ARMY was highly trained and
5 ably commanded, while the French
soldiers were poorly trained; and that
their war department was honey
combed with jealousy and politics.;
that the officers were not much good,
aud that's why France lest the war
and 80 many men. What do you think
about it, Uncle Dan2"
"e'Well," said Uncle Dan, Professor
Slocum Is right. BY inefiiciency 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-
fieHce, so she put in universal military
training, and as a result, her soldiers
now know how to fight and how to
protect themselves. They are losing
less men in the war than the Germans.
France also put politics out of her war
department, so that expert authority,
instead Of bureaucratic stupidity, now
directs the army. The result is,
France has one of the best and most
efficient armies every assembled, and
this Shows what thorough training and
good leadership means In warfare.
u Tthfu oor l,, 20 orfo io' nc
we'll as the liberties Of the world"
4 "As war Is now conducted, there is
no place TOR an unframed han. A
body Of 10000 well trained soldiers
properly handled could defeat five
times their number of raw recruits and
do 1t every time with comparatively
small loss to themselves. Proper traih-
ing salone will reduce the death and
casualty rate one-third of what 1t 9th.
serwlse would be. and right here 10 an
;unshewerabie argument for unlvereal
military training.
"Our government has no moral right
to force her. men into war service
I without properly training them for 1t.
To do so is simply murder, hence the
frantic effort that Is now being made
to give her soldiers some training be-
fore! they are sent to the front. II we
are 10 win this wGr, It VIII take tratned
men to DO Il, and It wiN take tra'und
nlant 10 win any ufher war that Ray
come upon ua IN ti'c Tnt0rp. II We
1alst fight, let us fight 20 wM aud not
! to lose" i
~rhat's the stuff" said Billie.
b Continuing, Uncle Dan said: "Our
government has expended about $780,
100000 to put up cantonments and
! training stations in order to train the
men called by the selectIve draft.
When these men are trained the train
ing stations should be Immediately
y 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
bill. This will be of immeasurable
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-reliantj quick
to see and quick to act; It will equip
them for successful life. In short,
1t will rebuild American manhood and
will also give the government body
OF trained men to draw from in caae
1t Is necessary to defend our flag and
country. We must settle this question
Of universal military training !mme.
diately, otherwise these training camps
, may be demolished. The adoption Of
universal military training will be no.
tice 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
3 war In the future than anything, else
we could do.''
do you think, brother" said Mrs.
Graham, "that there will ever be an
other WARP"
II have no doubt about it," said
Uncle Dan. $50 long as men are
selfish, so long as nations are ambi-
tious to acquire territory, 80 long as
population presses and demands more
n room, so long rs there remains
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
of.
'The only safe and sane plan is to
be able to defend ourselves, at all
times. Therefore, every citizen should
insist that senators and congressman
shall provide for universal military
Training, SO that never again shall the
country be caught so completely un-