Bisbee daily review., 1909-01-02
WANT SCHOOLS INSTRUCTED IN
 THE MILITARY
Government AppropriateS Hun
 dreds Thousands Dollars Annually For This Purpose. Inspection Made of Methods

WASHINGTON, ID. c Jan. l.--WEaL are the schools, colleges and universi- ties Of the United States doing in tne way of military training for the Amer ican youth is a question in which sert War Department is greatly interested. Approximately one hundred institII- tions of learning have attached to them army officers on either the active or retired list During 1908 the uv- partment went to much trouble to as- certain what was being accomplished by these officers and how far they were being assisted by the facun.-s of the institutions where they were serving Reports we're received frSsn. each of the officers detailed and eacl institution was inspected by officers assigned to this duty In addition sta tistics were compiled in respect to the government aid enjoyed by certain colleges. so that the whole gives liF= General Staff a very fair idea of iLse what the government is getting in the shape of military training in re turn for w1at it is doing for these in- stitutions of learning
 The details of the inspection will not be made public but the Geuel si Staff will probably have something to say on the subject when the reports are thoroughly digested. Most of the colleges and universities receiving government aid pay attention to the.r military department but very few are equipped for rifle practice, on winch the department is growing more in sistent. Again and again the inspvc- tors report the absence of rifle ranges out of doors and the poor facilities fol indoor practice as well as the anti- quated equipment of rifles with which the students are supplied. As an v:.- ample of the conditions prevailing the case of a Southern collgee may be cited. This institution receives an annual appropriation of S5l,li6. IL has no gallery range but has an uu, door range available at 200 and 30U yards, but has only one target for Its 570 students
 Tn contrast with these is a Teport from another Southern institution which abbreviated is as follows, the naDe of the college being withneiu: IL receives government support to the extent of s5S.S90 and s250 is al lowed to the military department. lu which 2G students are enrolled. com posing a battalion with three com Danies. Of these 11Z fired at 200 yards: 50 per cent at 399 yards: 5e per cent at 800 vards and per cent at skirmish. Twelve students quail fled as marksmen. or at high-sI grade. The time for range praet ice is set outside the usual drill hours The college is equipped with a 6e yard range within four minutes waIK of the college buildings, with two slid ing targets, and next year will have an indoor range in the basement of the armory. The report states that the '-tndents find pleasure and profit in military work" and that interest in rifle practice is keen" The in structor recommends that the govern ment should supply an ammunition al lowance of 100 ball cartridges per s5ndest
 Of another institution the reports say: Little importance is attached to the military instruction by the col iege authorities. Very slight military spirit developed and nurtured. df- though there are indications of im- prove1nent." Also: Very little ene couragement given by most Of the faculty As rule they absolutely lack interest and look upon militia 7 effort as time lost This institution is equipped with 300 yard range W th two targets ordered; it has no gal lery range