The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-27
STUDENT SOLDIERS III
WELL DRILLED
KANSAS ARMY
At X. S. A. C.. Are 1000 Stu
dents Trained to Arms.
OF These 1000 Are Prepared to
Take the Field.
MOBILIZE IN TWO HOURS
Armed, Equipped and in Pos
session of Uniforms.
Active Drill Is Enforced Three
Times a Week.
Armed, Equipped and in Pos.
session of Uniforms.
Active Drill Is Enforced Three
Times a Week.
SUNDAY.

Kansas can place LOCO men equip
ped, armed, and drilled, in the field in
two days-if they'd CO." says Orville
B. Burtis of Fredonia, colonel of the
cadet regiment at the Kansas State
Agricultural college.
While the fact IS not generally
known, there are 500 men drilling
three days a week at Manhattan and
fit to take the field any minute. There
are 1900 men there who have had
military training and own uniforms.
The general war scare in the east
and the billion dollar expenditure for
war materials on account of lack OF
preparation on the part of the United
States will not hit the Sunflower state,
as Kansas is able to place 5000 ma
tional guardsmen and 1900 cadets in
the field in two days, the cadets being
able to entrafn on two hours notice
The military staff at Manhattan
consists of two army men, First Li9u-
tenant c. NJ. Mathews of the Seventh
infantry and Sergeant Edward L.
Claeron. Colonel O. B. Burtis of FIRE.
donia is at the head of the regiment,
with H. L. Hopkins, o. L. Farmer, and
re. r. Martin as majors.
Must Drill Two Years.
The regiment is divided into three
battaIionS with four companies in each
battalion, twelve companies in the
regiment. There are from 20 to 60
men in each company excluding the
commissioned officers. Every student
in college and most of the students in
the school of agriculture have to drill
for two years.
The uniform worn is of olive drab
cloth modelled similarly to that of
regular in the service. The identify
ing marks are different color of leg
gings and the cap with an eagle on the
front. Most of the cadets are armed
with Krag- JOrgenSen rifles.
These guns are or the similar make
to the regular army rifle but of a diff
ferent model. but handle the same
shells. In actual warfare they would
be as deadly as the Springfield.
The department has a full line of
dog tents, squad tents and field para
phernalia with the exception of cook
ing utensils and apparatus for feed
ing the men. In case of need ali that
was necessary could be shipped over
to Manhattan from Fort Riley, twcn-
ty miles.
Two Colts rapid fire guns are on
the grounds and are operated by
crack company. There is Il signal
corps, a detail looking after the shoot
ing pit, and = wireless squad.
Wireless Outfits.
The college has two wireless out
fits, one a permanent apparatus
which can pick up MESA ges from all
over the United States and send aero
grams 200 miles The small field
, equipment is similar to that of the
regular army and is transported in
cart.
The cadet band of eighty pieces is
one of he finest musical orSanizsl-
tions in the state. Playing at all
games and events it gets a great deal
of practice and is we'll drilled in
marching and other dress parade
naneuvers. The men own their own
instruments and the leader. Burr II.
Cement is a former army man.
For two years in succession the
college has been pronounced one of
the best ten in the United States ana
given the title distinguished" by
United States army officials. Every
May army inspectors look oyer the
men and attend the sham battle ana
dance given by the cadets in their
honor.
Competition Drills.
In June competitive drill is held
and the captain of the best company
is given d gold saber The best
drilled men of the company, the bat
talon, and the regiment receive med
ais
.Sle, cadets are Injured to the con-
SStant outdoor life and could take the
field at once with little hardship. The
frequent drill makes the cadet corps
much higher military organization
than the guard, the cadets being COM
para Bile only to the regular army mon
4 year aSo last May the cadet corps
in part visited Topeka at the dedica-
tion of Memorial hall. The drilling
of the men surpassed that of any Ma
tionaI guard company at Topeka that
day AS only two companies of ca
diets were allowed to come to Topeka,