MILITARY CAMPS DEFENDED BY SPEAKERS

The training of officers afforded by summer military camps is a long needed preparation in case of war and an insurance against it, not a promotion of militarism, was the theme set forth in the speeches of President Lowell, Major-General Wood, M.D., '84, Brigadier-General C. H. Cole, and J. A. L. Blake '02 at the meeting in the Union last night. The great need of trained officers, and the inefficiency of present military commanders in many parts of our service, are facts emphasized by all of the speakers, and especially by General Wood and General Cole, who are both closely in touch with affairs of the United Sattes Army.

Almost exactly a year ago President Lowell spoke in the Union to a body of undergraduates on a subject directly opposite to that of last night. At the time of the excitement over the Mexican situation, the policy of keeping cool, and "keeping our shirts on" was freely advocated. Now we are to take a necessary precaution when the war cloud is nearer than ever before. It is the desire of everyone that mankind be so organized that war will be an impossibility. But to be prepared is no more provoking war, than it would be to abolish the police of Boston, or any superior governmental force the object of which in every civilized nation, is to maintain peace.

Many countries have been dragged in to the conflict against their will, and it is inconceivable that the United States will ever desire war, but if the catastrophe does come, it is every man's duty to his country to take the place that will be necessary for the protection of the nation. The proposition is not to go into the regular army, but simply to fit ourselves for the defense of the country when the need comes.

J. A. L. Blake '02, who was formerly captain of the cavalry in Massachusetts, told of his experiences in camp and explained the value of training in militia. "It is the absolute duty of every man to go into the summer camps," he said, "and capable and intelligent men, especially, are needed."

Brigadier-General Cole treated the subject from the standpoint of the citizen-soldier. He declared that the necessity of trained officers has been keenly felt since the Revolution, that today, the one great weakness in the army is the ineffiency of the officers. Nothing is needed more now than an extension of the kind of training school which is now conducted by army and national guard officers in Massachusetts. "The most promiscuous murderer in the world" he quoted "is the inefficient military officer. His incompetence results in the massacre of men to no purpose."

"We must not only be willing, we must be prepared," is the policy urged by Major-General Wood. We are to make use of the camps not so much as a preparation for war, as a preparation against war. Preparedness now is much more necessary than ever before. We should develop civic responsibility and a system of military instruction; the aim is not toward militarism.