The Washington herald., 1913-04-22
gen. W0ODPLANS
EDUCATED ARMY
War Department VIII Estab-
ish Summer Camps to
Teach College Men War.
RIFLE SHOOT TO FOLLOW
ColIegian. Would Not Be Asked to
Mingle with Regulars or
State Troops.

A plan by which college men may re-
ceive military instruction in camp this
summer at little expense to themselves
is being laid before the students and Of
ficials of the principal universities of the
country by Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood,
Chief Of STAFF of the Army, acting for
Secretary of War Garrison. The gen.
eral arrangements for putting into effect
this novel and revolutionary idea, which
originated with Gen. Wood, are now
practically completed, and the War De-
partment is rapidly going ahead with Ii.
1t Is proposed to establish this sum-
mer two experimental camps solely for
the college men. one in the East and the
other in the West. Student-soldiers to
the number of 1000 will be taken at Get
tysburg Immediately after the joint en-
campment of Union and Confederate vet
Grams on the battlefield early this sum-
mer. About 800 more will be encamped
at the Preside Of Monterey, Cal. The
period of instruction will be, roughly
speaking. about eight weeks, from early
in July to late in August, the exact dates
being subject to change
The purpose Of the experiment, which
will be made an annual event il this
summers trial proves successful, is to
increase the present inadequate number
of citizens who have had sufficient train
ing to quality them for efficient service
in time of war. 1t is proposed to build
up. If possible, a great body OF well-edu-
Gated youn men who shall have acquired
some military instruction through these
camps, and then draw upon them in time
of war as material for commissioned Of
ficers of volunteer troops.
NJ. n.nx- nrsn o.
Consequently. the War Department
does not intend to burden the college
men with the dreary grind of daily drill
which the enlisted recruit who joins the
ranks has to undergo. All the military
instruction and exercises OF the college
men will take place in the morning. for
about four hours each day. Afternoons
and evenings the students will have to
themselves. II is proposed to make the
exercises of a highly interesting charac-
ter, dispensing with all possible drill
ground work. The students will be given
uniform outfits and the regular army
rifles, but no one will pay any attention
to how they step or how they carry
their gun. so long as they get into their
heads the first principles of what they
are about
The exercise in the field will be va
rled frequently, WIN iectGres on mill
tary subjects by the best officers
available for the purpose in the whole
United states Army. The college men
will be told all about the causes OF
war. why a nations policies bring II
into conflict with the forces of an
other nation, something of strategy
and tactics, and the principles which
govern campaigning In the field.
At each place the college men will
be the star performers. They will not
be thrown in with the men OF the
regular army or the militia. 1t is pro-
posed to organize the students at each
encampment into companies of $50
men each. that is, full war strength.
instead of the skeleton companies OF
the regular establishment. Regular
officers will be in charge. but it Is
expected that some plan will be work