Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-10-04
MILITARY INSTRUCTION.

men have availed themselves of
the provisions made by the gov
eminent for a course of military
training. Onr own Agricultural
College, as our readefs we'll know,
is of this number.
Previous to the Spanish.Amer-
lean war the instructor was an
officer of the U. S. Army, detail
ed for that purpose. Since then
the exigencies of the service have
made it impracticable to supply
the necessary number of officers,
and the officers of the National
Guard, of tae several states, or
officers who saw service in the
Spanish war have been employed
and paid by the college authori-
ties for this work.
Although the military instruc.
ton attempted by the greater
number of colleges is but rudi-
mentary, it is generally efficient
and highly beneficial. If it did
no more than foster and encour-
age the military spirit ia our
young men and impars to them
graceful and easy carriage and
movement, it would repay the
effort put forth. But it does
more than this. It familiarizes
young men with the care and use
Of ordinance and military equip
ments, it instructs them in drill
regulations and minor tactics and
imparts a knowledge of the FORM
alton and movements of small
commands when in action.
In a number of schools the
military instruction embraces the
principles of Trajectory, staff.
administration, strategy, leglsties,
military courts and law. Some
times Instruction In these things
is impaired by means of lectures,
but in many schools elementary
textbooks are used, from which
frequent recitations are prepared.
Instruction in staff administration
is very desirable, indeed. Every
officer who has commanded a
regiment in active service under
stands this. Dnrinp the civil
war great confusion, inefieiency
and waste, especially the first
year, marked the administration
of the staff. Comparatively few
trained officers could be, had for
such duty. Commanding officers,
in addition to their usual duties
as such, were frequently COM
PEELED to perform staff duty for
themselves, and almost invaria.
bly, had to train the members Of
their staff in their several duties
Some of the states on estab-
lishing their National Guard af.
ter the war, did ii so thatinstruc-
tion and practice in staff. Admin
istration became a marked feat
ure. Pennsylvania did this very
thoroughly. Inefficient staff.
administration worked much mis-.
chief during the Spanish-A h-Ameri-
can war. The staff has been re-
organized with a view to greater
efficiency, but 1t will require the
test of war to determine how per.
feet it may be.
Standardization is Of 50
great importance that it should
be a subject of careful instruction
in the military classes of colleges
and in the National Guard ser
vice.
Logistics, too, should receive
more attention than is usually
given to it. This relates to the
military resoarces Of countries, to
the movement of troops with
their necessary impedimenta-
their tents, camp fixtures, and
supply trains bearing ordinance
stores, subsistence and medical
stores, entrenching tools, pontoon
trains, etc. The movement Of
small commands, as a regiment
requires more or less knowledge
of this branch of military science.
It's principles and their practical
applications are set out in nnm.
erous text books, and an elemen-
tafy knowledge of the subject is
easily acquired.
Il Is not In contemplation that
these schools give full and ex.
haustive instruction in even few
branches Of military science, but
the government wisely lends its as
sistance and gives its encourage.
AZ.