St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1918-10-05
DRAFTED men
. TO Be Trained
BEFORE CALL
Nationwide Organization for
Preliminary Drill Launched by
National Security League
Under Sanction of Gen.
eraI CroWder.

curity League has undertaken the or
ganization throughout the country of
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 aud
how to take care of themselves.
The League has drawn up compre-
hensive plan, which will be put in oper-
alton in every state in the Union under
the direction Of COMMITTEE on Pre-
.liminary Training and instruction Of
Men Registered for Draft" Of which
Surgeon-General Charles F. Stokes, q.
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 r.
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
ies Of the League, scattered in all parts
!Of the country, and subcommittee OF
SUPERINTENDENT 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. ]. Franklin Bell, commandant
at Camp Upton. is an 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
ito 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:
"u) Each Local Draft Board,
through it's Chairman, will select a
Captain, who will procure the assem-
bly, Of the registrants and obtain from
a 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
ICY The Captain will also invite q
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
consciousness Of knowledge which will
add to their strength and usefulness.
AT present the vast ma jority Of our
young men are called to the cOlOrs un-
trained. 1t would greatly facilitate
their being turned into soldiers and
save the government time and money
II when they are called they are pro-
vtded with SOME knowledge Of military
training and sense of discipline and
organization.
"The 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
"Disoroanized Rabbie."
Under the guidance of such a man,
aided by an influential local clergyman
and physician, the drafted men will go
to their environments in efficient, or
4anized bodies rather than as disor-
ganized rabble and with spirit Of
self-reliance and comradeship. All the
strangeness of the new life will have
been eliminated, and, since the men
hSill have been taught what lies before
them. they will face duty with the con-
ddence of familiarity.
The military instruction will COM
prise only the simplest evolItions, 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
ana efficiency Will be conducted by the
government military authorities. Ar
morles, public parks and squares, pub
nc school Fairgrounds, etc, will be
utilized for the actual drilling. Drills
twO or three times week Of an hours
duration will be preferable to longer
4 periods at less frequent intervals.
Fitted for Officers.
Competitive drills will be arranged
70 stimulate interest and enthusiasm.
One OF the advantages of the plan will
% that the men who prove most prof.
Gent IN the preliminary training will
nave an excellent chance of being Sc
secteC as non-commiSsioned officers
vnen they arrive in camp"