The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-28
TRIBUTE TO Y. N. |.
BY ARMY OFFICER
+ GLOWING Inspection Last
Spring, Captain SCHMIDT Urges
Mounted instruction.
MAY GET FIELD EQUIPMENT
h Report and Recommendations
to War Department, He States
Military Work Excellent.

Infantry drill and training at tho
Virginia Military Institute. near Lex
inGton has reached such an advanced
stage OF cricienov that Captain 6 j.
Rayard Schindel. general stan. United
states Army. who made an inspection
of the school last April. believes that
there should he mounted instruction
FOR the cadets, and has recommended
I" he War Department that battery
OF ncld artillery be Issued to tho school
at once. Ills report. copy or which.
has Just been placed on NJ" with Nd
jutant -t;eneral W. w Sale is - most
co'nplimentarN ono. and places the
school or tho highest pinnacle. Ills
recommendation for the issuance of
the new regulation three inch field
pieces in itself shows his opinion Of
The West Point OF the south
Captain Schindcl has no adverse
criticism in any ono particular. lie
found the military department Of the
institute and the work OF the cadets
excellent in every respect SO much
for that In his general remarks h.
says:
should we need volunteer officers
1t would pay the War Department to
make use OF the first and second
classes immediately upon tho outbreak
OF war. am sure that they would
nv &c tbNlil "dItilh, III II nlEN SltII
ard, and appreciation OF tho require
mcnts Of their duties rs officers No
criticism cnn hc found with the re-
suits obtained at the institute Its
standard Of discipline is high. and APP
breaches CLOSELY tho standard main
tanned at the United States Military
Academy
The inspection covered every phase
Of The military life ut v NJ. y md
included talks with many Of the ca
diets. with the view OF ascertaiuiu:
their liking FOR military life Speak
Ing of the corps IS a whole, Captain
Schindel said:
They are a neat. we'll appearing 60,
Of Young mcn. II is quite evidcn;
that they are fond OF military life
Their reading and instruction is
thorough. and they are we'll prepared
to answer questions on military
topics
MILITARY ISSTUt-t"rION
or PitINI: IMPORTANCE:
Tho inspecting officer reports that
'hc military Instruction is considered
Of primary Importance hv the insti-
tutc faculty. ana that the military
spirit is developed and nur,ured 10 the
greatest extent possible. lie finds that
All requirements IN the military de-
partment AMI IN the course Of instruc-
lion prescribed hy the War Department
to he fully carried out. and that the
infantry instruction and training il
Sufficiently advanced to warrant IN
struction IN artillery and other
branches. lie Furthermore reports
that the average graduate is qualified
for commission as Il lieutenant OF
volunteers
Captain SchindcI reports. that the
course az military instruction now
conforms TO the War department. aud
in some instances exceeds il, and tina.
there Is no necessity for the standard
ization Of tho courses on his account.
Grades of excellent were given on
the following drills. formations and
exercises
Battalion review. battalion inspcc
ton. arms ami equipment. drn by ca
extended order; tSutt's manuel. arlil-
lcry detachment, calcsthcNtics by
fourth class. hrSt aid detachment:
signal squad detachment. huzzcr. hello
gra ph ana nag: hayonct exercise ana
fencira. guard mounting: escort 10 the
colors. and combat exercises All
buildings. barracks. mess hall and
library we're found to he In eNccllen,
order.
In military engineering work tho ca
lets were found 10 he very good This
included erection Of rarapct trench
and ditch with traverse. eunbank and
einhrasurc and barrel rcvetment; gun
pit hasty entrenchment by infantry
lying down. timber shelter. sodded.
capacity $50 men. target butt Tor two
steel frame 500 yard targets, reverted
with split less. ana timber backstop
OF crihhng and dirt.
The compact exercise. Captain Schin-
del reported. showed decided improve
nent over previous years, as there
was more cohesion between companies
and their tcamwork was much better.
Taking cover and the formation adopt
cd was. rule, correctly accom-.
plishcd
The battery which Captain SChindel
recommends for the institute is similar
TO that used by the Richmond How
itzcrs and the other two batteries in
Virginia. 1t consists OF four three
inch field pieces, caissons. forge wa
CONS and other accessories. It's cost
is about 500. 900.