South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-14

attained the age necessary TO be-
come a member OF the Boy Scouts
has sufficient intelligence and good
Judgment, is mentally and physical
ly fitted 10 be taught the use and
handling OF fire armS-abandoing
he staff-acquiTing a knowledge.
which Will later eliminate the ele-
ment OF danger. from inexperienc1,
10 comrades and friends when aheld
Or at practice on the range. SuOsti-
t.te a gun for the staff. then teach
the scouts to correctly handle and &C
curately shoot. Shooting is one Of
the most infatuating and manly
sports eXtant There is no in or out
door sport wherein there Is less LA
bility of accident or loss OF life than
shooting. For over 40 years / have
been a devotee OF trap and field
shooting, present when many mill
lion shots have been fired: as yet
} have never been present when
an accident occurred. The element
OF chance or good luck is not a fac
tor neither does the folk lore that
children and unforturnates are cared
for and protected by wise provi-
dence" explain this absence OF ac-
cidents Care, caution, experience
and education, with the introduction
OF all safety first requirements are
the answer.
Should Know Firearms.
When a member Of the rising
generation answers the "call Of the
Wild" which, Reckoning afleld Is
most seductive, it is the part OF good
judgment that ne should be pos
sessed Of a knowledge of firearms.
lie should know how to execute and
he conversant with every detail of
the 'don'ts," This will make every
boy scout a desirable field compan-
ion and welcome shooting guest on
every occasion. Our American sol
diers are men Of recognized shoot
ing ability which has been the cause
Of success perching upon their ban
ners in the past. Their shooting
education was an asset when accu-
racy was necessary for decisive vic
tory. Wars of 1916 and 1912 were
| successfully negotiated because our
soldiers had been intensively trained
to accurately shoot and handle guns,
irrespective of calibre. The world
war features repeated instances
where tide of battle was turned and
! the enemy forced 70 shout the pa
! thetic "kamerad," by the accurate
| barrage of bullets, a solid wall of
! hurting lead, laid down by the
Knauck and Dough Boys whose
training for shooting accuracy haG
| been acquired ahield and in the
! open of their native lands.
Concerning The Army.
Governing bodies in the United
! States and Canada are discussing
the magnitude of their national po-
| lice department or regular standing
army. Gen. Pershing says this or
| ganization should be based upon the
minimum, just large enough 10 pro-
vide against sudden attack. Every
! enlisted soldier is eliminated, as d
| necessary integral part, from our in
/ dustrial or business world. Expense
| for maintenance of an army bears
! down upon the dear people with
! burdensome taxation. 1t is always
| easy 10 tear down without Offering
| suggestions or substitutes for recon
structlon or betterment. To my criti-
cism of an excessive standing
army, we offer an organization who
are efficient, willing. competent and
! aggressive. The Boy Scouts. who
now compose Americas rising gem
| Grafton, are the intelligent answer.
| Universal training, in moderation,
with intensive instruction in accur-
ate shooting and handling OF fire.
arms places the Boy Scouts on a
| 20 percent soldier efficiency, with
| consequent physical benefits and
| manliness after a short period of
| training and experience. A limited
! reserve of seasoned veterans should
be stationed where they would be
! available upon a moments notice.
| The government should give the Boy
Scouts substantial encouragement.
instructors. guns, uniforms and am
munition, for legitimate practice,
should be generously supplied by
| Uncle Sam, who, in return would
have, in a few years, an annual
release Of post graduate Boy Scouts.
! finished under the immediate su-
pervision of competent commanding
officers, dependable as n trained ar
my, upon call, thus eliminating the
unnecessary overhead expense. We
are not threatened with war Men
have returned TO their homes and
civilian life. imbued with a spirit
Of peace and anxious 10 avoid re
petition Of wars carnage. The peace
dove hovers over the world, anxious
! 70 light and become chummy. when
the cannons OF Russia and a few
smaller countries cease TO boom and
annoy
Preparedness does not invite war
| TO the contrary. up-to- the-min ute
| preparedness, Pershing says, would
have ended the war in 1917 and
| guarantees perpetual peace. Teach
our rising generation tactics accom-
panied by the art of accurate shoot
| ing: every manly boy will then be
| come a member of Americas civil
standing army Of Boy scouts with
power 10 act.