The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-18
DRAFT MEN ENDORSE
UNIVERSAL SYSTEM
MILITARY TRAINING
Opinion of Men, Obtained
Through Questionnaires,
Indicates Belief They
Are Benefited By
Army Life

| Washington, March 17.--overw helming
| Endorsement of a universal military train
| Ing system. coupled with equally strong
| support for the existing disciplinary re-
| letionship between officers and men of
the army, was expressed by a representa-
tive group of the selective service men OF
the 12Sth division, Camp Devens. Mass.
| just before the organization was demobil-
lied last January. The opinions of the
| men, numbering 1880 with an average
! length of service of 1917 months, were OBJ
tanned through carefully arranged
questionable system with every safe
guard provided to insure absolutely free
expression of opinion and with such dis
tribution In the division as to make tho
answers representative
The report the inquiry was made
public today at the war department L.
Is headed:
Our military system as 1t appeared to
Americans citizen soldiers
Although half of the men questioned
were rated as dissatisfied with military
life, the report shows that S9.5 per cen:
of the, replies expressed the soldiers be-
lief that he personally had benefited by
his army life, 70 per cent were glad OF
their training aside from feelings of pa
triotism, and IS per cent favored univer-
sal military training as a national policy.
A substantial majoity agreed that tho
existing relationship between officers
and men was necessary and disapproved
the social mixing of the rank and file.
The largest number of suggestions as to
improvements in the service received HAD
TO do with better fitting uniforms or
changes in mess arrangements. There
were more than 10000 men in the Twelfth
division at the time of the inquiry, rep
resenting4 AZ states.
The organization was awaiting orders
for France when the armistice was
signed 1t then suffered more than two
months of waiting for rehabilitation
before the missionaries 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 it's low ebb.
CONSULT DISCONTINUED MEN
Every provision was made to ascertain,
the views of discontinued men in order
that the results might have real value to
the army The commanders of the ~
companies were furnished with IS ques-
tionnaires each and instructed to give to
six men of high intelligence and rated as
good soldiers, to six others of equal intel
iigence but supposed to be discontinued
with army life, to three good soldiers of
average intelligence who had indicated
views hostile to military discipline. The
men were|told to submit their answers
only Immediately upon or after discharge,
so no fear of subsequent action by theif
officers would impede the free expression
of their views.
speeding impressions to be gained from
the service.
As to the disciplinary relations 81 mer
answered it was necessary against 135
who held it unnecessary: 297 said it was
not harsh against 140 OF the opposite
view; 27S said it was democratic and 155
the opposite and 1888 held that it depended
on the officer In the individual answers
was found material which prompts the
report to say that many criticisms were
directed against the overbearing manner
seen in some OF the young officers One
soldier said:
ut all depends on how much brains
God gave the officer" and another said
1--WE have to have discipline in the army
but not like some of these 90-day lieu
tenants think.
On universal military training the an
swers were emphatic OF 1880 replies
turned in, 1918 were flatiy In favor.
Good citizenship, physical benefits and
character building were the chief reasons
of approval assigned.
The largest number OF men making
recommendations as 10 the form OF Serv-
ice urged six months as a sufficient perl
cd and thought it should be given during
the 18th year. A considerable number
thought it. should be part of school or
college courses. Only eight men expressed
view that more than year OF training
should be required and only 50 fayoress
more than six months
In expressing how they would look back
on their service. 1855 men reported feel
ings of pride or pleasure or both, while
1s2 merely said they were mot sorry