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Show jONE YEAR ENLISTMENT ENLIST-MENT The wave of kenUiuent In favor of compulsory military training which swept the countr before we entered tho war, tins not only subsided, but most of Its former supporters are non-Its non-Its objectors. We havo bud n tuple opportunlt) to note the effect or millions mil-lions of onr oung men transferred from normal productive life lo military mili-tary camps. We don't like It. The boys theinselis. mo?t of all, an- opposed op-posed to It In times r-f peace. The public also has a heller realization ot (ho coki in dollar tt maintain a vast training ostein, llefoie. II had no concept inn whaiowr. Kven a minimum ol training lor n compaia-thc compaia-thc handful tuns into millions; the war ilcpatu-nt tiMircj It will cost over ov-er J2G, 000,000 to give 100,000 men a four months military training. More over it wonld not sound well for the nation loudest in its voice for universal univer-sal peace, to embark on a huge new scheme of soldier making. The pio-posal pio-posal lo i educe the sl?e ot our standing army will bo approved by an overwhelming majority of our people. This does not mean Dial Ihey are ready to go foolishly to tho other c extreme which at piescnt Is equally j absurd. The proposal or President Hnidlug to shorten the term of en- j. Ilstmcut In our army" from three years to one year, Is both sensible ( and practical. Nututnlly the drill- j misters will have to work much hard or with a one year Instead of n three year term. On tho olher hand, one I Wnr will leld all tho rectults necen- I sary, doubtless more. There should uo longer In- the necessity to cany n u constant campaign for men. It would be unfair to say that foi years barring the period of the Spanish ar the methods of securing men io fill expired terms almost bordered m shanghaiing, In sonle of our larg a"r cities. Certainly many a boy iwoke. from a drunken spree to find himself pledged to shoulder n rifle for three years. Three years Is a long prospect, e en to tho c areless, and to the more desirable class ot applicants it's n' very long time. Hence, largely, the' cause foi desertions a nrot regret table event In any man's life no matter how Justified he reels hi- ca-i lo be. , The ono year enlistment ti rm will aslly provide full rnnka of n tleslr able character. Many a young man i will take a year's army life, Just for tho experience, who would never In ' peace times consider three years, I While three years training turns out I a more exact soldier perhaps, we ! demonstrated in the lato war that I ono year men aro not to be regarded " lightly. Moreover with tho one yeart term tho training will easily grnd-' uate twice as many men as tho three year, and there are many who, entering enter-ing for one yenr, would find tho life attractive and remain for years Tho . . one year enlistment has so much to recommend it, it should by all means bo givin at least a few cnrs trial III II. Windsor, in I'opular Mechanics Magazine. |