New-York tribune., 1919-04-06
Views ''Peace Forever as a
Dream and Favors Uni
versal Military Train
ing, Says Representative
Sees New Wars Ahead
Would Mould Every School
hoy Into Potential Soldier
and Build Up Big Army
By Wilbur Forrest
Special Cao,e Ss1-r,ce
NeaO York Tribune

Special Cao,e Serr,ce
Nea0 York Tribune
Copyright. 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
COBLENZ, April 4.-Congre
julius Kahn, who as chairman Of the
Military Affairs Committee in the next
House Of representatives, knows as
much about the American army as any
other civilian told the Tribune CORE
spondent today that he finds that the
American officers and men abroad are
almost unanimously in favor of uni
versal military training. He said:
"After every war we find it necessary
to reorganize the army. The object of
my trip abroad this time Is to study
that problem and get ideas. Despite
President Wilson's Utopian ideas re-
garding the league Of nations, it is my
opinion and the opinion Of the major
jty OF the men who have looked the
situation straight in tho face that wars
are by no means over.
"You cannot force different races of
people of different temreraments to
love each other. President Wilson may
think so, but he Is surrounded by q CO.
terie Of men who keep him blind to
tho real situation and public opinion
and Is leaving idealism to run Its
course.
Calls ~Big Four" Autocratic
"This war was fought for liberty
against autocracy. What could be more
sutocrstic than four men sitting Sc
crstly at Versailles attempting to de-
eide the destinies of the world? There
are momentous problems that we are
Interested in. While they are quarrel
ling among them selves the strife is in
creasing and world waiting for peace
is growing more and more restless.
Looking to the future of America, we
must have universal military service
"A standing army of more than a
hundred thousand men, acting as a
nucleus or framework of great army
composed of American youths, makes
fundamental military training neces-
sary. find the sentiment over here
among cur troops almost UNIVERSAL
Peace forever more is gentle dream.
don't believe, however, we should
bind ourselves t. mix in the future
In European quarrels. We must be
prepared to maintain peace in the
Western Hemisphere"
Mr. Kahn explained that his uni
versal training programme would in
clude six months service for every
american male physically equipped for
such service, either in or out of Amer
{rnn n nm rctf 4 ~, l.. I
create no massive reserve, discharg-
Ing each man at the end of the train
ing period without obligation.
Wants Army Always Ready
A voluntary enlistment or selective
ofaft system, according to the nations
needs, could then be invoked, if neces-
sary, to swell the standing army frame
wosk INTO great, national manpower
Iorce with sufficient power, at short
notice, to maintain the dignity and
command the respect of America in
/ any circumstances.
ar. Kahn believes that the majority
/ oi MS colleagues in the House of Rep
t.sssntatlyes and the majority of the
american saas people are in accord against
!Msu1ying any agreement reached at
tnepeace conference which would tend
70 oind the United States to any pro-
CANINE OF sending troops to Europe
toparticipate in future var.
ne recalled conference between a
barty OF American Congressman and
resident Wilson in Paris the other
Tusy, IN which they warned President
wilson that Congress never will ratifv
any agreement that would compromise
the Monroe Doctrine.
Ut hann has visited British army
ool1lclals at Cologne and to-day left for
otayence TO talk with French army an
tslolIeles with the object of gaining
'oeas on universal military service.
Unafraid of Bolshevism
Congressman Kahn arrived at Cob
ianz from Brussels. While in COLOGNE
no saw nearly 100 copper bathtubs
Conserved by big German bath estab.
usnments ua there, despite the stories Of
;as ;as oearth OF copper in Germany dur
tIs tIs ven war He compared this with
s situation In Brussels, where the
,h..l ,hmans TOOK every ounce of metal
ss ioono' including even the ancient
ysvnze door of the Brussels art eal-
aries. M / asked Congressman Kahn.
;. 10 you think Germany can be forced
slgn peace treaty and pay large
SrIissinnlty Sis ay or that Bolshevism will en-
~" inc country, leaving to the Allies
ssn ~ Iesponsibile person from whom 70
congressman Kahn replied:
~;,i no, l don't believe Bolshevism ever
sn. succeed for any long time any
A. Iste. sh bolshevism started in the days
:. the Greeks and the Romans and al
,ays iailed. 1t is like the idealistic
drss or d. nations-an impracticablo
~ 'sn. There is moro than one way
shouIa Iiaaxlns n Germany pay, and she
win 10 you think the American troona
t.,n, rn, ee able to leave Germany by Sep-
mardiy by September" Mr.. Kahn
,esnf ar. Kahn intends to visit the Amer
fo,a oattiefields. Paris and Rome he
-''e returning to America