Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-14
ADVANTAGES OF
MILITARY DRILL
CONTINUED from First Page. !

vital Importance because of the small
standing army that we had at the
time of our entrance into the war.
1t appeared at first a tremendous
undertaking to raise, equip, and train
an army of several millions of men;
yet 1t is being accomplished and
with effective results as has been
proved very recently by what our
citizen-soldiers are doing at the bat
tie front. This great task could have
been completed more quickly if the
majority of our men had received
previous military training. This
training could have been brought
about by our having offered it in the
high schools of the country, but
since the majority of such schools
have not afforded the opportunity
up to this time, the country is just
so far behind in the training of its
men at this nerve-racking crisis.
Some years ago a cadet corps was
organized at Central High school.
hut after a short existence it was al
lowed to die. If this drill had con-
tinued we might now have military
training thoroughly organized. Many
parents at first opposed military
training in the high schools because
of the bad effect it was liable to
produce. They took the effect of
such training in Germany as an ex-
ample. But Germany was like a
drunken man with a gun. The man
is dangerous because he does not
know how to use the weapon, and so
ii was with Germany. She trained
her boys and used her military power
for conquest; but we are sure that
civilized and peace-loving America
would use it onl yto suppress wrong.
Military training is rapidly being
introduced in the public schools of
America: and the benefits derived
by the students are of great advan-
tage to them. The Steever system
is at present used in a number of
high schools. Under this plan the
boys are equipped with uniform and
rifles and are drilled by competent
officers. They are taught the funda-
mentals of army formations and
movements as we'll as the care of
rifles and of their own bodies. They
also receive course in signaling
and map making which is very use
full and instructive.
"In addition to the physical bene-
fits derived from this training the
moral and mental instruction is
also helpful. The military student
is taught to obey and respect his
superiors. Such training teaches
the IllSi SCIoOl DOy "ltiC
the daily drill increases his keenness
for grasping situation quickly.
Another advantage of military
training in high schools is to give
the young men a chance to become a
noncommissioned or commissioned
officer if he goes into the army With
the majority of our men having pre-
Vious military training it would
greatly hasten the training OF our
army for just such emergency as
we face to-day.
Advantage Realized
The public in general is beginning
to realize the advantage of such
training. In Philadelphia the mill
tary plan will be brought before the
Board of Education for them to de-
eide whether or not the schools of
that city shall offer it next year.
The public schools of Wyoming have
a system of military training which
is said to have the endorsement of
the War Department. At the pres
ent time it is installed in more than
forty of the largest cities in the
country.
Since Harrisburg has kept to the
front in other progressive move
ments there seems to be no valid
reason why it is impossible to have
NIdlIlllS LOI Tie l1lSli SCuOOl
boys of this city. Such training,
backed by the school board and en-
dorsed by the war department,
would educate for peace. and pre-
pare for our prompt defense. 1t
would be an easy matter to form
several companies in the local
schools and it would do the boys a
vast amount of good. Under such
discipline Technical high school boys
would learn respect for their bodies,
the habit of obedience to authority.
and a mental alertness that would
make for success in after life.
Tech has sent a generous share of
her boys to serve humanity. Unless
kept from service by physical unfit
ness or because, of dependents every
one of her alumni not only will. but
must serve. How much better might
that service be if each son of Tech
had enjoyed the training I am urging
tonight. Shall we train the boys of
our American high schools for the
greatest efficiency in peace. and pre-
paredness in war? You and I must
answer that question and that right
speedily" The salutatory oration by
George Gordon Holland was entitled
Liberty and Sacrifice" The second
honor man said in the course of his
remarks:
The present crisis should most
forcibly remind us of the sacrifice
we must make in order to preserve
our sacred liberty. Germany for
forty years has been perfecting a
machine to teach to the world that
right is subordinate to might. But
thank God that America is willing
to shed its last drop of blood to send
the German theory to that hell
which is proper environment, and
give to the world the theory that
might is subordinate to right.
Might I give a little message?
The BOYS in the trench are praying
not that God will preserve their
lives but that God will be with us
here at home. Now what are we
praying for? We are praying for
neace, but not peace without vic
tory. And with this in mind, let us
receive to sacrifice that portion of
our lives, which is necessary to make
the world a fit place to live in, and
to preserve the sacred principle for
which our forefathers died.
Another GRAFTON was delivered by
Winfield II. Loban. His subject was
Keeping the Home Fires Burning"
He said: "Of what shall our foun-
dation consist, that it may possess
4 l.