Life — March 30, 1916 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Military Preparation (Life Magazine, Page 564) This page argues for compulsory military service in America, framed as necessary national preparation. The text cites the *London Spectator* on how war transformed British society—instilling duty and sacrifice while reducing interest in "amusements or racing or sports." The decorative border by Paul Gould contains military and patriotic imagery: soldiers, sailors, ships, and weapons alongside classical figures and athletic scenes. The argument suggests that *forced* military service would produce spiritual renewal—a "change of heart"—claiming England achieved this through wartime necessity. However, the author admits America hasn't yet experienced comparable transformation despite military preparations. This represents early 20th-century pro-militarism rhetoric, advocating conscription as morally beneficial, not merely practical.