The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1918-09-05
Nationwide Organization for
Preliminary Drill Launched by
National Security League
Under Sanction Of Gen.
eraI CroWder.


liminary Training and Instruction Of
Men Registered for Draft" Of which
Surgeon General Charles r. Stokes, u.
8. N, retired, is chairman.
crowder Approves.
Provost Marshal General Crowder,
to whom the Security League submit
ted the idea before acting, has ap-
proved it in letter to Col. Charles e.
Lydecker, President of the League, In
which he says:
"Your proposal gives me great salts
faction. Your League can render val
liable assistance in this manner
The Security Leagues plan will be
made effective through the PSI branch
es Of the League, scattered In all parts
of the country, and subcommittee Of
Surgeon-Genera Stokes's committee
cooperating with the Local Draft
Boards In all the states. It 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, commandant
at Camp Upton. Is an enthusiastic sup
porter of the plan and has promised
the Security League cooperation in
tot int, {yao< n IL
New York City and vicinity.
"clean, 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. General Stokes Outlin-
Ing the operation Of the plan, he con-
tinues:
There are three main working
points:
"(1) Each Local Draft Board,
through its Chairman, viii select q
Captain. who will procure the assem-
bly, of the registrants and obtain from
local military OK naval post, State
Guard or Home Defense Unit or from
retired or disabled veterans Of the
present war an adequate training off,
Ger. AK
"(2> The Captain will also invite .
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 ana usefulness.
AT present the vast majority OF our
young men are called to the colors un-
trained. It would greatly facilitate
their being turned into soldiers and
save the government time and money
II when they are called they are pro-
vided with some knowledge Of military
training and sense OF discipline and
organization.
'AThe position Of local Captain. who.
will 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
nDlsoroanlxed RabbIe.s
"Under the guidance OF such man.
aided by an influential local clergyman
and physician, the drafted men will 60
to their ,cantonments in efficient. or.
ganized bodies rather than as q dlsor-
Eanfzed rabble and with a spirit Of
self-reliance and comradeship. All the
strangeness OF the nsw life will have
been eliminated, and, since the men
viii have been taught what lies before
them, they will face duty with the con-
ndence Of familiarity.
'The military instruction VIII com
prise only tho simplest evolutions, with
particular emphaais upon military cour-
tesy- when, where, how and whom to-
salute. a general supervision Of this
phase o. the training for uniformity
sand efficiency will BE- conducted ~ tho
government military authorities. Ar
mories, public parks and squares, pub.
lie school Fairgrounds, etc, VIII be
utilixed for the actual drilling. Drills,
two * three times 4 week Of Al hours.
duration will DO preferable to longer
periods At less frequent inteFyal6
Fitted ~ oa15cera.
competitive drills win Be arranged
to stimulate interest and enthu1iasm.l
One of the advantages Of the plan VIM;
~ that the men who prove most prQtlJ
Client ii the preliminary training VIM
have al excellent chance Of being -
lected a. nontcommissioned ofncerG
when they arrive = eenpr !;