Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-26
MILITARY TRAINING.
Government Investigates Amount oi
 Work in Schools That Get Aid.

Washington D. C., Dec 26-What
 are the schools, colleges and univer-
 sities of the United States doing in
 the way Of military training for the
 American youth? is a question in
 which the war department is greatly interested. approximately one hun dred institutions of learning have at
 tached to them army officers on eith-
 CT the active or retired list. During 1908 the department went to such trouble to ascertain what was being
 accomplished by these officers and how far they were being assisted by
 the faculties of the institutions
 where they were serving. Reports
 were received from each of the off,
 cers detailed and each institution
 was inspected by officers assigned to this duty. In addition statistics in respect to the government aid en- joyed by certain colleges, so that the whole gives the general staff a very fair idea of just what the govern ment is getting in the shape of mili- tary training in return for what it is
 doing for these institutions of learn ing.
 The details of the inspections will not be made public but the general to say on the subject when the re-
 ports are thoroughly digested Most
 of the colleges and universities re- ceiying government aid pay attention to their military department but very few are equipped for rifle practice, on which the department is growing more insistent. Again and again the
 inspectors report the absence of rifle
 ranges out of doors and the poor facilities for indoor practice as well
 as the antiquated equipment of rifles with which the students are sup piled. As an example of the COndi tions prevailing the case of south ern college may be cited. The insti
 tuition receives an annual appropria
 ton of $51,146. It has no gallery
 range but has an out door range
 available at 200 and 300 yards, but has only one target for it's 510 stu dents.
 Tn contrast with these is a report from another southern institution
 which abbreviated is as follows, the
 name of the college being withheld. It receives government support to the extent of $5S,S00, and S250 is allowed to the military department,
 in which 126 students are enrolled, composing battalion with three com
 panies. Of these 1l2 fired at 200 yards; GO per cent at 300 yards; 30 Der cent at 500 yards and per cent at skirmish. Twelve students quali- fled as marksmen, or at higher grade. The time for range practice is set outside the usual drill hours. The ! college is equipped with a 60 yard range within four minutes walk of { the college buildings, with two slid | ing targets. and the next year will have an indoor range in the base ment of the armOry. The report states that the students find pleas ! ure and profit in military work. and l that interest in rife practice is
 keen. The instructor recommends i that the government should supply ! an ammunition allowance of 100 ball cartridges per student.
 ! Of another southern institution the
 reports say: Little importance is
 attached to the military instruction
 by the college authorities. Very
 slight military spirit developed and
 nurtured. although there are indica- tions of improvement" Also: 'Nery ! little encouragement given by most | of the faculty. As a rule they abso- | lutely lack interest and look
 upon military effort as time i lost" This institution is
 equipped with a 500 yard range
 with two targets ordered; it has no gallery range.
 It is believed that as result of the l thorough inspections several institu- tions will have difficulty in securing
 the assignment Of officers for their | military departments. Try a nemocrat vart aH