The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-07-22
THE NORWICH PLAN
Worthy of Adoption by All
Colleges

Colleges
In a recent issue Of the Waltham
Mass, Evening News appeared the
following article by Prof. Carl Vose
Woodbury., relative to what is known
as "The Norwich Plan" on combining
military with academic education.
Current literature Of this country
and of Canada is full of the dread
possibilities that confront the world.
The awful cataclysm produced by the
irresponsible act Of a single individual
turning a period of world peace and
prosperity into strife which may well
include all races and nations in its
dire consequence, has caused men and
women everywhere to think,
Between the boastful individual
who unthinkingly brags that Uncle
Sam will show EN- if he ever gets
into the mess, and the timid person
who metaphorically wrings his hands
and sees only universal destruction, to
be heralded by the resounding blasts
of the trumpet Of doom, there is a vast
array Of sober-minded citizens who
recognize the critical nature Of the
situation and are anxious for a real
solution Of the problem; whose
thought is expressed in the words of
Abraham Davenport, Let God do His
work; we will see to ours
"The question, what is our work
involves the diplomatic and military
policy Of the United States, not only
at the present time, but for the
future. Whether peace is to be the
dominant spirit in international affairs
in the near or in the distant future,
the fact remains that nation which
is destined to have voice in the
worlds affairs, to bear its share of
the white mans burden, to be an
active agent for the spread Of peace
On earth and good will toward men,
must be better defended than is the
amb with its bleat and its look Of
helpless innocence. We need not be a
lation OF jingoes and bullies, but we
must be able and ready to defend our {
interests, to protect those dependent
n US, If our influence is to be effec-
i've. The best method Of doing this |
5 subject of general discussion. 9
There is much to be said for the
ierman system of taking the un-
rained peasant and putting him in I
hape to be a soldier at moments c
office; although the development of
lrge standing army is generally con- I
Idered to be impracticable and unde- Il
irable for US. The chief fault Of this {
ystem, however, is the consumption 6
a great amount Of time at a period u
hen the recruit usually dislikes and "
m i'll afford to lose it,, Senator U
Iorrill, in his bill providing for land u
rant colleges, stipulated that there A
iould be military training along with u
lie courses in agriculture and mechan- u
arts. While this rule is still in In
irce and is obeyed in the letter to bt
me degree, its spirit is lost, most OF AZ
ese institutions making the military m
urse optional after one or at most ed
70 years. Needless to say, it is not dc
popular elective In the time de- le'
ted TO the subject some knowledge of
the various drills is given, and a In
tie theoretical instruction impaired. all
It as rule there is none Of the live vi
.erest in the military work, the es- tn
it de corps, which alone can serve gr
burn the teaching into the very
al Of the student and make a poten- en-
i warrior, real citizen soldier out thu
him. The War Department has tht