ARGENTINE COMPULSORY MILITARY SYSTEM IS APPLICABLE FOR U. S.

Eduardo Raybaud, military attache to the Argentine Embassy at Washington, in an article in the Yale News, writes of the success of the compulsory military service system in vogue in his country.

The outstanding features of the Argentine system are the generous exemptions and the training after the term of enlistment. The satisfactory results of each of these has led to interest in the Argentine plan.

Colonel Raybaud says:

"Compulsory military training in the Argentine Republic is working out most successfully. It is far superior to any voluntary system which has been tried and does not work the hardships attendant upon ordering out militia in time of impending trouble. Argentina has had this compulsory system since 1901, and through it has trained an enormous number of able-bodied men to serve with the colors in time of war. Under the stringent physical examinations provided under the law a man with the slightest defect is excused from military service.

"Such a system as now exists in the Argentina Republic can be worked in the United States. My country is in a thousand ways exactly similar to this, and I see no reason why the same general laws that are of use there should not be workable here. Argentina, like the United States today, was faced with the problem of getting volunteers to enlist in the army. She had the regular army and militia system now prevailing in the United States.

Selections Made at 20

"Under the Argentina system the training starts in the schools when the boys reach 12 years. Until 15 they learn drills, and at that age they take up the rifle and continue to practice with it until 20. Upon reaching this age they are certified to the war office and selections are made. Young men who are the main supports of their families are excused. The younger men selected are required to serve with the colors for one year in the army or two years with the navy. The man does not make the selection of either force. The heads of the military departments say what branch of the service the man shall go in. After the one or two years of training he passes to the first reserve, which is supported by the states. At intervals he is required to participate in manoeuvres.

"At all times there are approximately 23,000 officers and men in the army and 10,000 officers and men in the navy. About 16,000 new men are selected every year. The remainder are volunteers, or what might be termed the professional soldiers, who have taken the military profession as a life's work. These men are the officers and non-commissioned officers who train the new men.