Evening star., 1932-05-25
Defends r. o. T. C.. From
E. C.. StantOn's Criticisms
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The letter in a recent issue Of your
paper by E. c. Stanton, in which he
refers to the Summer training camps
for the r. o. T. c. as outings for
young men at public expense" seems
to ridicule the Importance Of this
training. Mr.. Stanton. from his article,
is apparently beetle expert" and,
like many other people in this country,
inclined to discuss matters he knows
nothing about. instead of confining
himself to those things on which he Is
informed. If MIR. Stanton would 60
to the trouble Of figuring the cost of
the late war and what the taxpayers
of this country are now paying and will
pay for many years to come to cover
the expense Of that war and will con-
slider the many young men who now lie
in Mother Earth and others who are
manned for life as a result Of that
war, possibly he might reconsider his
opinion as to spending 81 10000 or
$2,000,0 900 year to train physically
and mentally a few young men that
this country might be prepared in the
future to ward off an expensive war.
Had we been prepared to 60 to war in
1917, Germany never would have per-
mitted US to declare war
Mr. Stanton apparently knows moth
ing about these Summer training
camps. 1t is true the boys have a
good time. The Army attempts to
make 1t attractive for them and at the
same time uses every means of develop
ing them physically and mentally, in
stilling discipline and obedience, quail
tiles absolutely essential in event OF
service in the Army. Again, the Gov
~, nntrr hn vk TO-.
and subsistence Of these boys. Re-
serve officers, likewise, 60 to Summer
training camps, but If you can call
this a vacation, Mr.. Stanton has a
poor conception Of what a vacation is.
morning ard the Regular Army people
keep HIM moving Training the Re
serve officer is money we'll spent; it is
nothing mote than insurance against
T3r. J Ncnder ii Mr.. Stanton would
remove the police CT fire GeDartmonts
to econamiZe Oh take the locks OF the
doors CT his home. Probably not, yet
he would remove the little national
defense that We have left.
Mr.. Stanton deploreS the reduction
of money for fighting the Japanese
beetle. ! would like to see the Japan
ese beetle stamped cut as well as the
many other pests that we have in this
day But If We are going to continue
to cut our armed forces we will have
all Europe erd in addition to the Japa-
nese beetle we vii. Rave the japanese
themselves in Cur midst 1t IS tine for
Americans to lo-k little farther ahesd,
ct-p trusting in paper treaties" and the
so-called disarmament conferences
which accomplish nothing but lowerinr
the Treasury balance Uncle Sam mus.
look out for himself.
Mr. Stanton deplores the fact that
tho Geneva delegation must come home
for lack Of funds When they are
home this time why not keep them
home and save the money wasted ON
such affairs? AL the money this Gov
ernment has spent on disarmament
conferences would have exterminated
the "Japane2e bee!la" or taken care OF
the r. o. T c. c2mDl FIR several years
How little Jcp,a was concerned over
the dis rnam at .nd her treat :
IT aliarc7 e v III si1e was a msnba Y
Wh9n 81" De '-'' set she wanted part
Cf Chine =. II. Et2rt0n would have
$ sDerd mC-7 .1c~e- in this manner
Ea calls the S'nlme- camps vacations
&C. the b1ys. b.: over'col;s the nice
llrg vacations sC-.'a CT Our statesmen
80 he'd in Tu'-oe 81 Covl~nn, mt
o'-'-erSe d!Scu n { ssrnsner- With
n" '1ns who h no intention Of
maintaining g. 70; u
" lam L. FORD.