Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-11
MAKING BETTER SOLDIERS.
BIZ FREDERIC ]. HAsKIS.
Especial Correspondent Of The ArEu

NSPeClal OUEISSpuuucut>OA Auo IA 6uSls
Washington, D. c., Nov. s.-Just how the
life of an enlisted man in the regular army of
the United States is being made over on a
basis which will cause it to be SO different
from that which he led in anti-bellum war
times that the veteran Of the service will have
difficulty in recognizing those stations In
which he used to serve.
The regular peace time army Of the United
States is to be converted into training school
for citizenship, and half the time that the
enlisted man spends in that army will be given
to development along lines that are not mill
tary. The soldier is to be given education.
trade training, athletics, music. literature So
cial life-all Of those elements that were so
effectively introduced into the training and
daily schedule Of the men who went into the
national army for the great conflict. The
change from the life Of the old army post will
undoubtedly be great and it is the intention OF
the war department that life in the army shall
be placed on new basis which will give 1t
those advantages which will attract to 1t
worthy and ambitious young men from the
great body Of citizens.
In those days before the war the uniform
Of the soldier was social ban. He was a
parish and an outcost. He was not accepted
socially and this fact drove him to the saloon
and the brothel. Little effort was made at
army posts to fill in the spare time Of the SOL
der with anything that was useful or bene-
fetal. He learned soldering and nothing else.
The influences outside OF the time spent in
tage.
During the war as though by inspiration
the American public brought to the men in
training score OF wholesome and helpful
influences One of these was the introduction
of athletics to fill in the time Of those young
sters who were fond of contests Of sport and
skill These athletic recreations, the benefits
Of which were demonstrated during the war,
are to be kept in the army are to be organ
lied and developed. Every camp is to have
Its athletic instructors. An elaborate scheme
of athletic events which will fill in II months
Of the year is to be organized and each unit
In the service will compete for athletic hon
ors. The spirit of athletics best typified in
the American universities is to permeate the
entire army organization.
That great American army, four million
strong, which turned the tide of the world
contest came to be known as a single army.
The Introduction of the song leader into its
every element was novelty, and was fea-
ture which proved to be exceedingly popular
and which brought to the men spirit that
they otherwise would not have known. The
song leader is to remain and the regular army
is to become singing army. Likewise Is
much attention to be given to organizing or
chestras, bands, quartets, glee clubs and other
agencies which give musical talent of the
army chance to express itself.
The ordinary employer is responsible for
the man who works for him for but eight
hours day. The soldier is under the control
of his officers for "a hours day. His officers
are, therefore, responsible for his entire time
This responsibility, during the war, led to the
furnishing of various forms of entertainment
for Tha I hoc
an institution and is to be retained in the
regular army. Every post will have its Lib
erty theatre. To those theatres will come must
cal, vaudeville and other attractions, paid for
by the government and touring army posts as
other entertainers are booked for the various
municipalities OF the nation. A s-upendous
motion picture organization is being built up
the province of which is to select and supply
to the entire army such films as to make at.
tractive exhibitions a part of the weekly pro-
gram Of each post These dramatic entertain.
ments an9rmotion picture shows are not to be
entirely free. charge of probably dime
will be made and this money will help main
tain the high level Of the entertainments given
The service clubs and the hostess houses
that came to be institutions during the wal
will remain and will find their way into every
post no matter how isolated it may be- and all
the advantages of club life, and of being able
to receive their women friends that were giveI
to men in the national army will become the
permanent privilege of those who are in the
regular institution.
The American Library association, during
the war, did yeoman service in providing read
ing matter for those four million men who were
in the army, reading matter that was selected
with much skill and that was accepted en-
thusiastically by the men in the service. The
organizations built up by the American Ii
brary association will be taken over bodily b,
the regular army as will be the millions O.
copies Of books which were provided. Their,
were books enough to furnish constant read
ing for four million men during the war ant
these will serve long and helpfully in an arm,
which has been reduced to 100000 men. Whel
they are worn out other books will be pro
vided at the expense of the government An,
man in the service who is a lover of book
will always find himself adequately supplied
But finally, bigger and greater than al
these incidental agencies that are being sup
piled the army, comes the opportunity TO pro
cure an education. The regular army is t,
become one huge training school which will b.
open to great numbers Of young men who 9th
erwise might miss an education.