New-York tribune., 1919-02-01
Universal Army
raining Asked
by Senator New
Youths 10 to 20 Years Old
Affected by Bill Filed
by Indiana Republican

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3f.-Universal.
compulsory military training for Amer
lean youths as permanent national
p01icy IS proposed in a bill introduced
IN ehe Senate to-day by Senator New,
q indiana, Republican. Such a policy,
me indiana senator said in Offering the
Olh, provides the only guarantee
against any occasion fer the mainte-
nance of large regular armyv
Training of not more than one wear
Tor all youths between 10 and 26 wears
limited to one continuous period and
+ "o' divised from year to year-is pro-
V'ded by the bill, which was referred
10 'he Senate Military Affairs Commit
zee with suggestion by Senator New
lnal IL be laid before the Army General
staff for report at the next session
of Congress.
onder the bill all youths upon com
pietlon of the training period. as fixed
by the President, would 90 into na-
t'onal reserve for call in case of ne
cessity. Priority of service would no
placed upon the youngest annual class
Urged as National Policy
The plan was urged by Senator New
as national policy to be adonted as
soon as possible. He denied that uni
Versal training involves maintenance
OF large standing army, and declared
u would prevent that situation. In
TINS connection he opposed the War
Departments plan for a temporary do
mestlc army of 100000 men as neither
necessary nor desirable"
Asserting that misconceptions re-
garding universal training have arisen,
Senator New said:
MT. President, the public mind
needs to be disabused of whatever i'm
preston prevails in it that universal
mliltary training presup Hoses a large
standing army.
"On the contrary, it presupposes
the exact opposite. In case of war it
lolloWs as necessary sequence that
the young men OF the country must
comprise its armies. Universal mill
tary training guarantees that the
youth who is to be conscripted or who
shall volunteer in such case shall go
prepared for the various phases of
the ordeal he is to face rather than
that he shall be taken unprepared and
unfit.
100000 Officers Required
"It provides the only guarantee
against any occasion for the main
tenance of regular army of greater
proportions than the country needs
or is wiling to support.
Under the operation of this system
the soldier is in reality a citizen, free
to follow his chosen vocation, except
for the period required for his proper
training.
I'VE should have at all times some
thing like 200 600 men capable Of be-
ing officers. This is about the number
we have had in this war. They can
be developed under the universal
training system, and, like the enlisted
personnel, they may be passed into
reserve force. subject to instant call
if occasion requires.
"At this moment the country is in
condition to develop such a policy at
less expense and to better advantage
than ever before. The cantonments
necessary are already in existence and
at comparatively small expense and
may be made to answer our needs for
several years
"To be sure, there may, and doubt
less Will, be some expense attached, in
some instances for the purchase of
lands now under lease. but, compare
lively speaking, the outlay viii not be
great.
1--WE have great surplus stores OF
clothing, arms, munitions, much OF
which will deteriorate and become
worthless within a short time and be
a total loss if not used and it might
better be employed to a useful purpose
than permitted to go to waste.
Emergency Legislation Urged
1--WE are now called upon to pass
emergency legislation to meet the mil
itary conditions abroad. We are called
upon to replace emergency Legislation
by further emergency legislation, but
with the expiration of this emergency
the provisions Of the new legislation
must also expire
"As matters stand to-day, within
four months after the date of the
proclamation of peace we shall have
no army. Extend the provisions Of
the existing law and again there will
come a date when the system created
by it will cease by Legislative limita-
! tions.
! eLet US confront the facts. We do
not know what obligations are being
prepared for us in Paris but we do
know that we have duties toward our
selves and toward posterity.
at may be we'll to make the world
safe for democracy. Let US first make
II safe FOR ourselves