Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-31
Universal Military Traininq.

Hamlin Garland of The Nigilantes
gets right to the bottom of the mill
tary training question in the follow
ing article, which is well worth the
attention of every father, mother and
boy in the country:
The world we knew in 1914 has
passed away. Germany has taught
us the folly and the danger Of being
unprepared. There can be no secur-
ity in our national life except as we
insure it by our own methods of de-
fence.
Our isolation is gone. We are in
the midst of the irresistible world
stream of National forces. Our
armies arc in Europe. When will
they be recalled? No one knows.
There is but one just, democratic
method of making war. and that is by
universal draft wherein every citizen
is called upon to serve according TO
his powers. There must be no
shirl<ing. no shifting of pain and sor-
row 20 others. We must all do our
share. and to do our share we must
have Notwithstanding not merely in
marching and shooting but in all the
manifold departments of modern
military service. First of all we must
he ut"
This training should start in the
schools. ] should like to see the drill
the setting up drill" in use on
every playground. Girls as we'll as
boys should be taught to stand erect.
TO walk strongly and gracefully and
TO move in unison. 4 mighty force
for regeneration lies in this drill.
As n nation we have been for
twenty years on the down grade
Tenement life. apartment hotel lux
ury office and shop work. poor food
end foolish forms OF amusement have
80 Slapped the vitality of our young
men that an appalling number OF
them fail to pass the tests OF the Eek
aiming Boards-and at the same
time our women present an even
worse condition. Hobble- skirts. high
hcolcd shoes. bad air. the use OF tea
and pastries and u craze for ball
room amusements and movie theaters
have made them sad procession in
our city streets.
TIL high -heeled shoe which women
wear, and the machine made pointed
shoe of the men OF civil life are in
themselves destructive OF easy
graceful and vigorous action. They
are of enormous significance in the
problem of universal training. Work
ing girls who are on their feet all day
tr;,
Men who walk many miles each day
do so upon sick. distorted feet. To
correct these habits is ono of the first
rules of military discipline.
Many of these weakening ten
denotes can be sharply counteracted
by training in the schools, by drill
which starts with design to make the
most of the students physical en-
dowment and leads on to the incul-
cation of habits Of dress and exercise
which tend to build up and maintain
on efficient body.
We can not all be soldiers in this
line. We can not all fly in the bat
tie plane. but we can at least all
walk like soldiers and be ready and
able to serve in some capacity in our
country's cause.
Training Of this sort because it is
universal and democratic will not
breed tyranny. We need have no
fear of militarism. We shall all re-
main citizen soldiers. The spirit OF
such training should be with us as 1t
is in Switzerland. defensive and not
aggressive. patriotic and friendly not
tyrannical.
Where all pay no one is impov-
erished. Where all serve no one is
exploited. Where all are soldiers no