The San Francisco call., 1905-04-23
THROWS LIGHT
ON NEW ORDER
University Authorities Bull
letin Explains Import of
the Army Instructions
REVELATION Is MADE
Military Officer Need No
Longer Act as Reporter
for Washington Bureau

BERKELEY, April 22-The new
order from the War Department, af-
fecting the military instruction and
drill Of students at such universities
as that of California, is much more i'm
portant and significant, according to
the university authorities here, than
appeared when the announcement was
frst made Of its provisions.
A statement was issued to-day from
President Wheeler's office, explaining
the new order and giving details Of its
contents, revealing what not many
people have known hitherto, viz, that
Captain Nance or any other military
instructor stationed at the university
has been expected to report to the War
Department whether the university
authorities "condoned in any degree in
subordination or disregard of discipline
on the part Of students undergoing
military instruction" and If this was
the case the military instructor was
obliged to make a report unfavorable
10 the university regardless OF all
other considerations.
It is now seen that the university
authorities were obliged to discipline
the students concerned in the riot on
the campus last year, when Captain
Nance's orders were practically defled
or suffer the inconvenience of having
Nance report the facts TO the War De-
partment-
Regarding this feature Of the old or
der, which now is so changed that such
reports from military instructors are
not required. the announcement from
President Wheeler's Office made to-day
says:
AN important Amendment of the
general orders applies to section of
those orders, which at present reads
as follows
IMPORTANT AMENDMENT.
When application is made for the
detail Of an officer of the army at an
Institution TO which an officer had not
heretofore been assigned. it shall be
visited by an inspector or other suit
able officer. who, after explaining to
the president and the faculty the re-
quirements Of these regulations. shall
satisfy himself as TO the intention and
ability Of the school authorities to COM
ply with them, and whether the gen.
eral sentiment Of the faculty is cordi
ally in favor Of military instruction as
herein required. II will be especially
ascertsined and reported whether the
college authorities viii refuse TO grad
uate any student who has shown in the
military department a spirit of insub-
ordination or habitual disregard of
discipline. The inspector shall then re-
port to the War Department whether
such a detail should be made" AS
amended. it will read:
When application is made for the
detail of an officer Of the army at an
institution to which an officer had not
heretofore been assigned, it shall be
visited by al inspector or other suit
able officer, who shall report TO the
War Department whether such detail
should be made.
Furthermore. section 9 has been
amended by the omission of the re-
ouirement that officers detailed as pro-
fessors at the colleges shall report as
70 the exact compliance by the school
authorities with these requirements Of
the regulations and also by the omis-
sion of the statement that II the report
Of the annual inspecting officer is ad-
verse the professor Of military science
and tactics shall be withdrawn and
also of the statement, If the college
authorities condone in any degree a
spirit Of insubordination or disregard
of discipline on the part Of students
undergoing military instruction, an ad-
verse report will be made, regardless
OF all other considerations.
These changes are self-explanatory
as 10 their purpose. 1t is evident that
the old orders were calculated to make
the military department in imperio,
the detailed officer being placed in the
unfortunate position of being respon-
sible 10 two sources of authority. He
Was even instructed to keep watch
upon the institution of which he was
constituted a member. and report to
an outside authority concerning it's de-
relictions. This was evidently an i'm
possible situation prolific Of misunder-
standings. The amended orders will
be evidently of very great profit to the
military departments of the colleges.
as well as to the colleges themselves -
SIGNIFICANCE is SEEN.
The Significance of other amendments
TO the old order of the War Depart
Inent relating to military instruction in
colleges is further explained by the
university authorities announcement
In the following words:
"A general order of the War Depart
ment has been received by the presi-
dent of the university as follows:
- At every institution of class 3 (the
University OF California belongs to this
class) at which professor of military
science and tactics is detailed It shall
be provided in its regular schedule OF