The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-08-16
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number Four
Military Training Necessary for Safety
end Defense.
Number Four

many and France in 1S70-71, Germany
lost In killed and wounded 28,OOO sol.
diers while France lost about six times
as many, and besides that, she lost
every battle. We asked Professor Slo-
cuIa why this was. He said that the
German army was highly trained and
ably commanded, while the French
soldiers were poorly trained; and that
their war department was honey
eombed with Jealousy and politics;
that the officers were not much good,
and that's why France lost the war
and SO many men. What do you think
about 1t, Uncle DanT'
WELL" said Uncle Dan, professor
Slocum is right. By inefticicncy France
lost that war, together with two of
her best provinces-Alsace and Lor-
raine-and had to pay billion dol
lars indemnity money. France today
learned her lesson by that sad expe-
rfence, so She put in universal military
training, and as a result, her soldiers
now know how to fight and how TO
protect themselves. They are losing
less men in the war than the Germans.
France also put politics out of her war
department, SO that expert authority.
instead of bureaucratic stupidity, now
| directs the army. The result Is,
France has one Of the best and most
efficient armies every assembled, and
this shows what thorough training and
| good leadership means in warfare.
This saved France in this crisis, as
we'll as the liberties Of the world"
"As war is now conducted, there is
no place for an unframed man. A
body of 10000 well trained soldiers
properly handled could defeat five
times their number of rdw recruits and
do it every time with comparatively
small loss to themselves. Proper train
ing alone will reduce the death and
casualty rate one-third of what it 9TH
erwise would be, and right here 10 an
unanswerablc argument for universal
military training.
''Our government has no moral right
10 force her men; into war service
without properly traih3ng them for 1t.
To do SO Is simply murder, hence the
frantic effort that is now being made
to give her soldiers some training be-
fore they are sent to the front. If We
are to win this war, 1t will take trained
men to do it, and 1t will take trained
lEen to win any other war that may
GENE upon us In the future. II we
must fight, let us fight to win and not
to lose"
"That's the stuff" said Billie.
Continuing, Uncle Dan said: "Our
government has expended about $780,
100000 to put up cantonments and
training stations In order to train the
men called by the selective draft.
When these men are trained the tr1in-
spg stations should be Immediately
filed with younger me1s say those In
their nineteenth yean to receive SIX
months OF intensive military train
ing along the lines Of the Chamberlain |
bill. This viii be of Unreasonable
benefit to them individually. 1t will
do them more good than any other two
years of their whole life; 1t will make |
them strong, manly, seif-Feliant, quick |
to see and quick to act; 1t viii equip !,
them for a successful life. In short,
it will rebuild American manhood and |
will also give the government body |
of trained men to draw from in case |
1T is necessary to defend our flag and |
country. We must settle this question |
of universal military training imme-
diately, otherwise these training camps
may be demolished. The adoption of |
universal military training will be mo-
tice to the world that from then on |
we viii be prepared to defend our
selves promptly and efficiently, and i
this will do more to keep Us out Of |
war in the future than anything else |
we could do"
S"Do you think, brother" said Mrs. |
Graham, 'that there will ever be aA-.
other war?"
II have no doubt about It." said
Uncle Dan. $50 long as men are
selfish. SO long as nations are ambi- |
tious to acquire territory, SO long as
population presses and demands more
room. SO. long as the-e remains
scramble for world trade-so long wars
will be. When the time comes that |
we reach the high plane for which we |
hope and dream. when all will recog- |
nize the fatherhood Of God and the |
brotherhood Of man, then, and then
only. will wars cease. When that day
comes doors will need no locks, banks
will need no vaults to protect their
treasures, but that day is, long way |
OF.
'The only safe and sane plan Is to-
be able to defend ourselves at all /
times. Therefore, every citizen should /
insist that senators and congressman.
shall provide for universal military
training, 50. that never again, shall the
country be caught so completely un-
ready as this war found us. For
turlateiy, In this case, our enemy has,
been held back, SO We have had few;
months In which TO prepare. This ad-:
vantage probably will never come;
again. 1t is however our salvation
today.
Because she was ready. Switzerland
Is an island Of peace In q sea Of
war. Safety first Is good, but safety I
aiways Is better In strength there IL.