Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 243, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1917 — Military Training Benefit to Youth in Time of Peace as Well as in War [ARTICLE]

Military Training Benefit to Youth in Time of Peace as Well as in War

By William Wrigley, Jr.,

of Chicago

As the world is constituted, and has been through thousands of years of strife, there is only one safe plan, and that is to follow the advice of Washington—in time of peace prepare for war. If we had done this a few years ago, we would have saved billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives. It is common knowledge in military circles that trained men, by knowing how to take care of themselves in camp and in the field, reduce the mortality and casualties at least two-thirds, and, what is even more vital, men of special training only can be used in modern warfare; Nationally we need a little foresight, a keener appreciation of the necessity for providing for future contingencies. We cut ice in the coldest sort of weather when nobody wants ice, for we know it will be demanded a few months later; so we prepare in midwinter for our comforts during the heated period of summer. The plan of universal military training as outlined in the Chamberlain bill would make available at all times millions of young men who have had sufficient military training to enable them to become excellent soldiers with a few weeks of additional training. This would safeguard the nation and prepare it against'any contingency that would probably arise, and if one should never arise, the training and discipline would be the very best experience that any young man could have. It would make him stronger physically, more alert mentally, quicker to see and to act. Also, it would increase his earning capacity and give him a better chance to win success in his life work. Our boys appreciate this. I think the majority Of them would be glad to take the training. Since the boys may at any time be called upon to defend our country and our flag, we owe it to them to provide them with a careful pretraining so that they may perform this important national function both efficiently and as safely as possible. * —_ —•—;