Bisbee daily review., 1919-03-18
UNIVERSAL TRAINING
 IS OVERWHELMINGLY ENDORSED BY TROOPS
Poll Taken in 10th Division Made Up of Drafted Men.
 Favors Plan
Rx Review Leased wirel

WASHINGTON, March 17-Over- wheIming endorsement of a universal military training system, coupled with equally strong support for the existing disciplinary relationship between Offic- CTS and men of the army, was express ed by a representative group of the selective service men of the 12th di- vision. Camp Devens, Mass, just be- fore the organization was demobiliZed last January. The opinions of the men numbering 1850, with an average length of service of 1O.7 months, were obtained through a carefully arranged Questionnaire system with every safe guard provided to insure absolutely free expression of opinion and with such distribution in the division as to make the answers representative.
 The report on the inquiry was made public today at the war department. 1t is headed:
 Our military system as it appeared to Americas citizen soldiers"
 Half Dissatisfied
 Although half of the questioned rated as dissatisfied with military life. the reports show that S9.5 per cent of the replies expressed the soldiers be- lief that he personally had benefited by his army life, 79 per cent were glad of their training aside from feelings of patriotism and SS per cent favored universal military training as na- tional policy A substantial majority agreed that the existing relationship between officers and men was neces- sary and disapproved the social mix | ing of the rank and file.
 The largest number of suggestions as to improvements in the service re eeived had to do with better fitting uniforms or changes in mess arrange ments.
 l There were more than 10000 in the 18th division, at the time of the in duiry, representing AT states. The or ganization was awaiting orders foT France when the armistice was signed It then suffered more than two months of waiting for Rehabilitation before the questionnaires were sent out and the officers who devised and super vised the inquiry point out that It was thus calculated to reflect army morale at its low ebb.
 All Views Given
 Every provision was ma0e to ascer tain the views of discontented meI in order that the results might have real value to the army
 i Ten questions were submitted eacf respecting impressions to be gained from the service. As to the disclpln ary relations, 7ST men answered 1t wai necessary against 135 who held it un necessary; 295 said it was harsl against 40 of opposite view; PTS sai'
 it was democratic and 15s the op posite, and 193 held that it depended on the officer. In the individual ans wers was found material whicl
 prompts the report to state tha many criticisms were directed .I against the overbearing manner seel ! in some young officers" One sotdle said: Tt all depends on how mucl brains God gave the officer and an
 other said: We have to have dis cipline in the army but not like som'
 of these go day lieutenants think
 Favor Universal Training
 On universal military training tn answers were emphatic. Of 1880 re
 plies turned in, 1918 were flatly il favor. Good citizenship, physical ben
 efits and character building were tn
 chief reasons of approval assigned The largest number of men making re
 commentators as to the form of serV
 ice, urged six months as a sufhcien period and thought it should be givel during the 18th year. A considerabl
 number thought it should be part O school or college courses. Only eigh men exhibited view that more thai , year of training should be require' . and only 6S favored more than si, . months.
 In expressing how they would lool . back on their service 1OSS men rt , ported feelings of pride or pleasure O both. while I62 merely said that the