Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08

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lieves that large standing army will
not be necessary.
I'VE must have troops in the Philip
pines, in Alaska. in Porto Rico. In the
Panama Canal Zone and other outly-
ing possessions Of the United States.
and then we must have sufficient to
man the Army posts and to act as in
structors of the men in training in
this country" He suggested that
200. 900 would be a sufficient Regular
Army for all purposes.
On one point Senators Warren,
Chamberlain and Representative Kahn
ter what kind of peace was had, mill
tary training should be adopted. If for
no other reason than for the physical
benefit the youth of the country would
receive. None Of them saw any rea-
son why the young men Of this coun-
ing. even II a disarmament or limited
armament clause were inserted in the
peace treaty (though they had no idea
such would be the case).
Training and Service Differ.
Mr.. Kahn insisted the people should
disassoctate universal military train
ing from universal military service.
The training. he said, would be merely
training, though he proposes that. the
government should pay the men in
training at the same rate as the SOL
diers In the Army during their period
of training.
Senator Chamberlain believes that
the Regular Army should number any
where from 100000 to 100000 after
peace has come. He would begin the
military training of boys as early as
the age Of thirteen or fourteen, and
have it a national affair, though pos
sibly aided through school work. Up
until a boy is seventeen or eighteen.
consist Of setting-up exercises and
training in some vocation connected
with present day warfare, such as
telegraphy. both wireless and wire,
chemistry. etc. When they are old
enough he would put them in camps
for intensive training in the field. He
and Mr.. Kahn would both use the col
leges. particularly the land grant col
leges, for the training Of reserve OFF,
GERS. Military instruction ts given
there now and could well be extended.
In this way, large number OF young
men capable of making efficient off,
GERS could be trained at q minimum of
cost to themselves and to the govern
ment.
Senator Warren, like Senator Cham
berlain, believes that the training
should begin early, and suggests hf-
teen years of age as the time to start.
The work insthe field with the regular
military manual would not begin I'M
til eighteen.
For Small Standing Army.
The plan of those favoring universal
training. looks to the establishment
of a large reserve of trained young
men, ready to be called into the serv-
ice of the country when needed, and
to a small standing army. Under
the national defense act provision Is
made for an army reserve, but 1t IS
a voluntary matter. Under the old
law, prior to the enactment OF the
vision for voluntary reserve.
Back in 1914 or 1915. Representative
A. P. Gardner Of Massachusetts,, later
Maj. Gardner, one of the pioneers in
the preparedness movement, gave
dinner at the New Willard Hotel to
the reserve army of the United states.
1t sounds like large order. But at
that time there were just sixteen
members Of the reserve army of the
United States! Just sixteen men
whose addresses were known. to the
authorities officially and who were
subject to call by their enlistment in
the reserves. Eleven Of them attend
ed the dinner given by Maj. Gardner.
Mai, Gardner, when the war broke
out. resigned from the House and en-
tered the service. He died of pneu-
monia in one Of the army camps dur
ing last winter.
It appears, from the demonstration
system which depends upon volun-
tary enlistments- Is not likely to be
effective.
How Sentiment Has Developed.
Compulsory military training and
compulsory military service run hand
in hand. The country has adopted one
and approves 1t. When 1t became
necessary to extend the draft ages SO
eighteen and forty-flve years not a
senator voted against the measure,
and in the House only two votes were
recorded against 1t, showing how the
sentiment in favor Of 1t has developed
since the first act was passed a, d.. IN n
act month after war was declared
was a victory Of which the admins
tration, which put it forward. should
be proud. It solved the problem, and
Immediately, of providing a great
Army. France had it long before the
war. Great Britain and Canada did
not adopt the system until after the
United States, though they had been
in the war for three years when the
United States entered it. But they
saw the wisdom of such law.
The United States was forced to go
to the draft law in the civil war:
George Washington constantly urged
upon the Continental Congress- that
service be enacted into law. and al
ways was strongly in favor Of it. And
yet for years it has been shouted
from the housetops that this country
was opposed to anything that upset
the volunteer tradition.
The United States government has
esta blished in this country during the
last twenty months great Army can
tonments and aviation fields. These
are at hand and ready for use in the
training Of the young men of the
country. These facilities. therefore,
will not be an added expense, other
than their upkeep. It has been esti-
mated that about 100000 to 1000, 900
young men will be trained each year
If the universal training plan is
adopted. In few years. therefore,
there would be a potential Army Of
millions Of trained men in reserve.
Contentious Of Opponents.
Opponents of military training in
sist that such training Is a useless
expense Why they say is It neces-