The Delta independent., 1924-07-18


defense of his native land? The man
who is unwilling to prepare himself
to protect his home and fireside is
not likely to take other obligations
seriously.
Such patriotism, among our girls
and women, is not, as some critics
have argued, the emotional worship OF
the uniform. 1t is based on a plain
understanding of the fact that reason
able preparedness is the country's in
surance against war. II, in 1917, we
had possessed an organized reserve of
trained citizens such as Is now in
process Of formation, I do not believe
| that we would have had to enter the
World War Germany would not have
dared to provoke US. She paid scant
attention to our protests against sub
marine warfare because she thought
We could do nothing to back them up.
She was taught that she was wrong,
but at an appalling and unnecessary
cost to us, both of money and of the
lives of our boys. When war actually
comes, 1t is the unprepared who suf-
Ter most, s those Of us know who
had to send halftrained men and of
ficers against the enemy - because
there were not others available.
The Best Way to Insure Peace.
That need never happen again, even
if new war should be thrust upon
us provided we carry out the present
| democratic plan of army reorganiza-
tion. For the first time in our history
we are trying to make use of the les
sons learned by painful experience,
and are taking the advice OF George
| Washington. who said: The best way
to insure peace is to be prepared TO
meet the enemy" In addition to a
| small regular army, the size of which
Is limited by law. and to the National
Guard. our preparation for national
I defense includes the Organized Re
1 serves, consisting for the most part
OF reserve officers assigned to skeIe-
ton companies. regiments. brigades
and divisions-three infantry divisions
TO corps, and nine corps areas for
the country, the areas arranged on the
basis OF density OF population. This is
a purely defensive and democratic or.
ganization. 1t implies no threat of
conquest, as its ranks will be recruit
ed only after the declaration of war
II is the foundation Of the people's
force Tor the protection of the people
For this Organized Reserve the
Citizens Military Training Camps
conducted during the summer In each
corps area. and the Reserve Officers
Training Corps in the military schools
colleges, and universities. are feeders
National Guard and Reserve officers
but especially these young men. who
go back to their homes trained and
vigorous and loyal. become nuclei of
patriotism. They stand out as e1-
ampies in devotion to their oblira-
tons
| II war should come, they will ba
ready. under their corps area COM
manders. to recruit locally their
skeleton units TO full strength and to
train them swiftly and compatantIv
among their own home surroundings.
with their own mothers and sisters
as the camp welfare workers. II our
poys must fight they will 20 into bat
tle properly prepared and under In.
'eilgent well-drilled officers They
VIII have fair fighting chance
NO one, but especially no one who
has been in close contact with ona
great war, ever wants TO see anotb.-
we al hope, such conflicts may be
avoided. but aside from the fact that
they are made far less likely bv the
military training OF our citizens the
woman patriot should realize that such
training is excellent preparation for
peace, as well as war
The seleCtive draft taught us nm.
/ pleasant lessons. among them tho
tact that fifty per cent OF ou-
Young men of military age are phyS3.
caily below par Most of their defects
can be corrected. however, bv proner
medical or surgical treatment suit.
aole exercise. an improved diet an
outdoor life. The life they lead at
the Citizens Military Training CamD
Is exactly what they need from
physical standpoint They are a dif
'ereht'looking set OF youngsters at the
ehd OF the month they spend in camp.
and the improvement holds over and
increases from year to year. II Is al
most easy to tell the first.years bows
from the second.year, by the latters
superior health and vigor. Not even
college athletics accomplish so much
physically for our youth as training.
camp life, because the tendency in
university sports is to concentrate
work on few who are usually above
tne average In physique. while at the
camps all the boys receive the full
benefit Of drill and exercise in the
/ open.