The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-18

WASHINGTON. March l7.-Over-
whclmine endorsement OF UNIVERSE
military training SYSTEM coupico WEN
equally strong support for the cN'St.ne
disciplinary relationship between oHlc~
orc and men Of tho army. was en-
pressed by representative group
the selcctlvc service men OF inc LIN
division, Camp Drvcns. MASSACHUSETTS,
lust before the organization was
mubilZcd last January. inc op'n'o"s
az tho men. numbering 1880, with an
average length OF service Oh ~
months. were obtained through care
Gully arranged QUESTIONABLE system
With every safeguard provided TO IN
curr absolutely free expression OF
onjnion. and with such distribution IN
the division as TO make the answers
representative.
;rhr report on the inquiry was maoe
nublir today at the war department.. ~
is headed: "Our military system as IL
appeared to Americas citizen solole1s.
Although half of the mon qucstfonco
were rated MS dissatisfied WIN military
life. the report shows that o'.o pci
| cent Of tho replies expressed the sol.
i dIcrs belief that he personally hau
! benefited by his army life. - per cent
n,ere clad of their training aside from
| favored universal military training as
! n national policy. 4 substantial ma
| torilv agreed that the existing relation
| shin between officers and mon was
! necessary. and diSapprovrd the socla'
| mixing Of the rank and file.
| The largest number Of SuggcStlohs
! as To improvements in the service hau
IN do with better fitting uniforms OF
| changes in mess arrangements.
! There were more than 10000 men IN
the 18th division at the time oil the III
ouiry. representing - states. Inc or
ranization was awaiting orders roi
! France when the armistice was signed
II then suffered more than TWO months
| of waiting for rehabilitation DelorG
! the missionaries were sent out' anu
tho officers who devised and SUPERVISED
| the inquiry point out that IL was mus
calculated TO reflect army morale d
| its low cub.
| . ivory nrovisiun was made to asccr-
| tain the views Of Disseminated men 'r
| order that The results might have rea
! value 10 the army. The commanders ~
! The eighty companies were furnlSnct
with IS QucStiGnnarrS each ana IN
structed To give them 10 SIX men q!
! high intelligence and rated as gooe
soldiers. 10 six others Of equal ln1clil
gcnrc, hut supposed to be discontentce
| with army l!f". 10 three soldiers o.
average intelligence and Ia three other:
of average intelligence who had lnul
! Gated v"ws hostile I" military dlscI
nlinc. Tic mon were told 10 suomi
| their answers only immediately upo'
or after discharge. 50 no fear OF SUP
segment action by their officers wouif
| impede the free expression Of thci
| views.
Ten questions were submitted. cacs
| respecting impressions 10 he galne'
from thc service. As ~ the dlsciplinar!
relations. 7G7 mon answered il wa
necessary. against 1873 who held il pn
necessary; ~, said il was not haTsf
against 40 Of opposite view; us sai'
| il was democratic AMI 1855 the opposite
and 1913 held that it depended on IN
officer In the individual answers wa
found material which prompts the ~
mort 10 state that many Criticism
were directed against the overbcarin
manner seen in some young officers.
One soldier said: 1T all depends Of
how much brains God gave the officer
md another said: we have to hay
discipline in the army, but not Xix