The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-09-05
DRAFTED Men
TO Be TRAINED
i BEFORE CALL
Nationwide Organization for
Preliminary Drill Launched by
National Security League
Under Sanction of Gen.
eraI Crowder.

oAA0 dGhCAai w IN A>ubiOndl CC-
curity League has undertaken the or
ganization throughout the country of a
systematic preliminary course Of train
Ing for the young men In the draft, SO
that when they are called they will
know something OF their duties and
how to take care of themselves.
The League has drawn up a compre-
hensive plan, which Will be put In oper-
alton In every state in the Union under
the direction Of a Committee on Pre-
liminary Training and Instruction of
Men Registered for Draft" of which
Surgeon-Ge General Charles IT.. Stokes, u.
s N. retired, Is chairman.
crowder Approves.
Provost Marshal General Crowder,
to whom the Security League submit
ted the idea before acting, has ap-
proved 1t In a letter to Col. Charles II.
Lydecker, President of the League, In
which he says:
your proposal gives me great salts
faction. Your League can render val
uUUiG u6SlSlAlIt III tiiiS nfdu1ti
The Security Leagues plan viii be
made effective through the PSI branch
81 of the League, scattered In all parts
Of the country, and subcommittee of
Surgeon-G General Stokes's committee
cooperating with the Local Draft
Boards In all the states. 1t provides
for the organization into instruction
classes Of the men soon to be called,
to be selected by the Draft Boards, the
actual training to be conducted by re-
tired or disabled army officers, whose
efforts TO prepare the young men for
service will be supplemented by local
clergymen and physicians.
Gen. j. Franklin Bell, commandment
at Camp Upton, is IN enthusiastic sup
porter Of the plan and has promised
the Security League cooperation in
obtaining instructors for the classes in
New York City and vicinity.
"Ciean, Sober Soldiers"
"The object OF our endeavor will be
to make the young men understand
why they are called for service to their
country. what Is to be expected OF
them and why they should be loyal,
clean, sober and intelligent soldiers"
says Surgeon-G General Stokes. Outlin-
ing the operation Of the plan, he con
tinues:
.There are three main working
points:
a(1) Each Local Draft Board,
through its Chairman, win select a
Captain. who will procure the assem-
bly, of the registrants and obtain from
q local military or naval post, State
Guard or Home Defense Unit or from
retired or disabled veterans OF the
present war an adequate training off,
Ger.
"(2) The Captain win also invite a
local clergyman to give information,
instruction and advice to the young
men.
Save Time and Money.
"(3) A local physician will also in
struct the young men In matters of
health, hygiene and physical ~well-being
In order that when they go to camp
they shall present themselves with a
consciousness Of knowledge which will
add to their strength and usefulness.
AT present the vast majority Of our
young men are called to the colors I'M
trained. 1t would greatly facilitate
their being turned into soldiers and
save the government time and money
Il when they are called they are pro-
vided with some knowledge Of military
training and q sense of discipline and
organization.
ssThe position of local Captain, who
win supervise the work, offers one of
the finest opportunities for patriotic
service for men Of standing in the COM
munity who are unable to get into the
trenches.
"~Disoroanixed RabbIe."
sUnder the guidance of such a man,
aided by an influential local clergyman
and physician, the drafted men will go
70 their environments In efficient, or
ganized bodies rather than as a disor-
ganized rabble and with a spirit of
self-reliance and comradeship. All the
rtrangeness or the new life will have
been eliminated, and, since the men
win have been taught what lies before
them, they will face duty with the con-
ndence OF familiarity.
'The military instruction will com
prise only the simplest eyolutions, with
particular emphasis upon military cour-
tesy-when, where, how and whom to
salute. A general supervision Of this
phase Of the training for uniformity
and eficiency win be conducted by the
government military authorities. Ar
moxieg. public parks and squares, pub
uc school Fairgrounds, etc, win be
utilised Tor the actual drilling. Drills
Two or three times a week Of an hours
duration will be preferable to longer
periods ct less frequent intervals.
Fitted for officers.
.Competitive drills viii be arranged
TO stimulate interest and enthusiasm
One Of the advantages OF the plan viii
- that the men who prove most prof
elent In the preliminary training viii
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