Show DISCRETION AND DISCIPLINE In the Outlook Capt Dana T. T Merrill of the United States army armr tells wh why there are so many desertions desertions de- de from tho the army He names the poor pay the abolition of the canteen caneen canteen can- can teen een the disrespect shown in man many p places to the men menn in n United States uniform etc Ho He declares that most of the enlisted men are not foreigners as is so often believed but native sons ons He lIe thinks moreover that there is a great lack ack of the martial spirit among the people generally of this countr country He lIe believes that to treble the pay of soldiers would stop desertions Our own belief is that could every youth in the theand theland theland land and on reaching manhood be he given a years year's service service service ser ser- vice in the army could this be looked upon as in inGerman Germany German as an nn honor the trouble from desertions would mostly cease save in cases when the desire to get out becomes a disease which the imminent fear ear of death is not sufficient to overcome Experienced generals have said that about 25 percent per percent percent cent of the men of the world might better be discharged discharged discharged dis dis- charged when the they first enlist because nothing can canever canever canever ever make them acceptable soldiers But if all young men knew that between 20 and 21 years of age they wot would d have to serve in the army and that it t would be a badge of honor to them all their lives the he great majority wOl would d look upon it as something to o be welcomed w And it would do them vastly more good than the last year in college for it would teach cach them how to walk how to bear themselves it t would teach them the use of weapons it would increase increase increase in in- crease their s respect self and their knowledge of men it would give them new and exalted ideas of what this government and the flag which symbolizes its majesty and power mean Then to desert would be DC looked upon as a disgrace never to be overcome And should a war ar come men so disciplined would not have any dread or horror of enlistment Nearly every state slate has a state guard some citizen citizen citizen citi citi- zen soldiery t that ha t meet for drill sometimes that t once a year go out for camp service for a week or two and this thiB is good as far as it goes But really it is ismore ismore ismore more of a picnic than anything else The little restraint re reo which is imposed is more than made up by bj bythe the he novelty and pleasure of the excursion it excursion it is playing soldier in great part part not not the rigid practice which makes confident self-reliant self practical coun coun- try-loving try men Germanys way is the better way |