The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-19
MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
The Military Department of the
O. A. Cts Purposes and
Requirements.

!
sThe first and greatest want that
will be felt in our country when
war comes upon us is the neces-
sity of competent officers to en-
able us to utilize our vast war
material. Unless we have Off
GERS who can promptly organize
the volunteers, instruct and care
for them, and direct them in bat
tie, our vast resources will only he
temptation to some minor pow
er to help ITSELF" {
The u. S. Military Academy
was originally designed to supply
the country with military infor-
nation, and, to furnish. officers TO
drill and direct our armies. in war;
but the enormous growth of the
country has made that source :of.
military knowledge too small FOR
it's needs, the graduates of the;
Military Academy not being s,Hh-l
Ecient in number to supply officers.
for our small regular army
Thousands of lives and millionssof
dollars were sacrificed to ignorahce,
and inexperience- during the war;
Of. the Rebellion, anda the war:
was greatly prolonged by the ne
cessity.. of making soldiers after
the necessity Of having them
arose. 3,
The government has recognized
the fact that we shall be as. i'm
prepared for the next war as we
were for the last, unless some
practical measures be taken TO
impart to the people at large suffi-
cient military knowledge toenable
US to put an army into the field.
at short notice, that is ready, for
action, and unless it should be q
war similar to that of the Rebel,
lion, in which both sides were
equally unprepared, we shaH
again pay dearly-more dearly
than ever before-for our neglect
of proper preparation. Any first
class power that appreciated ogr
present military condition could
conquer its demands beior" We
had learned enough to utilize our
resources. ]
| With the object of having
among the young men Of the
country a number with some mill
tary instruction, that will be 81
very great value to the country il
the event of war, laws have been
! passed at:different times since the
Rebellion, detailing army officeig
to colleges throughout the country
to- take charge of this work until
at the present time, there are oIe
hundred army officers at <as many
different colleges, teaching ting
rudiments of the art and science
of war. The amount of time
that can be devoted to military
INSTRUCTION in most of these col
leges is too snail, and the facili.
ties are inadequate, to accomplisk
all that could be desired, but With
the very limited time allowed,
and the means at hand, great
deal is accomplished toward the
making of soldiers. At the Ore.
gon~Agricultural College,, thor
ough drill in the schools of the
soldier, the company and the, bat
talon, (infantry) both in clase
and extended order, is given to 1sfl
male students. The U. S. ArHiy
Drill Regulations for Infantry,
Burnham's Duties of Outposts and
the Guard Manual are studied by
a class OF fifty-three of the most
advanced students. :.
A course of lectures upon mill
tary subjects is delivered to this
class, intended to lmpart to them
informations upon questions :.sof
the organization of. troops, admin
istration of military affairs, disci-
pline, military law, the employ
ment of troops in the enforce
ment of he--laws, battle tactics,
and practical field duty, upon
which they can have no actual ex-
perience for the want of time and
proper facilities. An effort is be-
ing made to interest the natipnal
guard of the state in the military
department of the college and to
so arouse the interest of the grad
yates of the military course, that
they will pursue their military
studies after graduation. as MEM
bers of the national guard. =:
The college battalion consists of
the regular battalion field and
staff officers, a band of 13 pieces
and four infantry companies, and
presents a fine appearance on p.
rade and at drill. -,
Aside from the benefit derived
by the country in having the
young men who graduate from
colleges at which there is milf
tary department made better citi-
zens, in that they are abler to
serve their country at her time Of
greatest need, the personal benefit
10 the individual student who
takes live, active interest iifshis
military studies and duties is very
great