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Show , UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING ADVOCATED k- BY CHAIRMAN WOOD Tho following communication from Honry A. Wlso Wood, chairman of conferenco committee qn National Preparedness, has Just been received receiv-ed at this offlco and Is a good answer to tho verbose effusion from the pen of one Wlllard Dallam of Hyde Park printed In the Logan dally of Tuesday's Tues-day's Ibsuo: March 3. 1917. Editor, Logan Republican, Logan, Utah. Dear Sir: I am writing you on tho assumption that youself and the principle citizens of your commun-llty. commun-llty. are always willing to do what you can for your own town and that you are especially willing to lend your influence to anything which will promote the security and Baye tho lives of your fellow citizens. , You are doubtless aware that we 1 are at a critical time in our life as 1 a nation, far more critical than most 1 men realize. A navy sufficient to 1 restore our safety at sea Is yet to H bo built. Last "year's scheme to give H us an army has failed. Even if tho S regular army as provided by the f m legislation of the last session of con- lyk ft-.gress were sufficient In size to repel rJ "' an invasion, the rate at which re-Y re-Y 4 crultlng proceeds presages failure, 2 and the mobilization of tho National m Guard on the border proves conclu- ' alvely that If our nation depends up- '': on such a system for defense this '& fallacy, will produce Immense di ll Rasters In the future, as It. has dono mjk In the past. ' Hip- Of the total number on tho rolls wDjki of the National Guard at' the call for MB!. mobilization nearly 47,657 were lost SIR' on account of physical disability, or H for other reasons. K Of the total number who went to jjjjB the border 128,000 nearly one-half, MK or 60,000 wore without any military training; 56,813 had novor fired a military rifle, and only 37 per cent of those who were enrolled when tho call came were mustered into tho acr-vice. acr-vice. Therefore, had our troops been called upon to faco tho troops of a first-class, or oven a second-class power, the most appaullng slaughter of our own pcopln would have been Inevitable. Theso figures aro significant, but they are especially prophetic when you recall that in peace times one foreign nation can land 827,000 trained soldier on our Atlantic coast In 46 days, another nation at present can land 238,000 seasoned troops on our Pacific coast In 63 days. Is It wlso longer to leave our homes and our families unprotected when'we can so easily ralso an effective effec-tive barrier against war's reaching to our own shoresT Universal military training and service is now our only safeguard against general disaster should war come with a first-class military power. Without It we will never have an army sufficient to insplra the respect of predatory nations, and in tho name- of humanity and of patriotism, I ask you for the sake of the men and womon of your own city, to give your Influence to bring about this much needod change in our military system. If war comes as the result of our presont, almost criminal negllgenco It will carry off the young men of your city Just as have our past wars, so what bettor servlco could you render your fellow citizens than by helping so to shape conditions that wo shall bo made too secure to warrant any nation In attacking at-tacking us? Yours very truly, HENRY A. WISE WOOD. Chairman. |