The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-17
PRES. REEVES GAVE TALK.
Newly Elected Head Of Norwich Univer'
sity Spoke on Military Life.

sity Spoke on Military Life.
"Men's night" in the series of special
services which are being held during the
week at the Hedding M, L. church was
observed last evening with small but
appreciative audience present In the
absence of the president of the mems
brotherhood, Rev. Il. +. Newell introduced
the speaker, Capt. Ira l.. Reeves, Y. ,. A.
Capt. Reeves has recently taken the presl'
dents chair at Norwich university, fol-
lowing three years at the head OF the
military department at the University OF
Vermont, and previous career as an OH
Ger OF the regular army The subject OF
his address was, military Education"
The first part Of the talk was a brlet
discussion of the army in general. Inc
speaker explained that the officers re-
ceive their commissions in three different
ways, by graduating from West Point,
by attending some university and taking
a competitive examination, and by rising
from the ranks through examinations.
About AT per cent Of the officers at the
present time are West Point men. A
commissioned officer holds a commission
signed by the president and keeps his
office for life, or during good behavior.
A well balanced army Is made up OF
infantry, comprising about four -sixths OF
the total number of men, cavalry and
artillery making mp the other two-sixths.
An interesting point introduced here was
that the United States is the only coun-
try in the world to use its cavalry for
unmounted fighting. The first instance
Of this occurred in the Civil war. Our
army is made up Of two classes OF
troops, the standing army numbering
about 1000 officers and men; and Ma.
tional Guard which is not under direct
control Of the president, except on GER
tain occasions mentioned in the consti'
tuition.
In regard to means of educating the
officers and men in the regular army
Capt. Reeves explained that in every
army post in the country, the total num-
bering about $50, there is a school in
session during part OF every year which
all officers must attend. Such studies
as international law, the military history
OF the United States, and field regula-
tions. are prescribed. There are also
schools for the enlisted men, where they
NAV study, under officers detailed to
teach them, practically anything they
choose. There are also a number OF col
leges in the army where men may be-
come specialists in various branches, for
the modern military man is az much OF
a specialist as the man in civil life. As
Capt Reeves said. Modern war is sci
entific affair" and the men who carry it
on must be educated.
In 1853 Senator Justin Morrill, of Yer
mont introduced bill in Congress pro
viding for the granting of land to the
states for the purpose OF founding col
leges to teach the agricultural and me-
chanical arts. This bill was passed in
1862 with an amendment requiring also
instruction in military tactics. This was
the origin Of the ''land grant schools"
the University of Vermont being one OF
the SO in the United States to-day. Each
of these schools has an army officer fur
nished by the government TO teach the
military part of its curriculum, though
some have been inclined until recently to
make as little as possible of this branch.
There are also number of private mill
tarv schools. of which Norwich univer-
sity is one of the three with a college
grade. Norwich and Vermont rank
among the 10 highest in the country in
their respective classes.
In regard to the value Of a military
training for man who does not intend
TO follow military career Capt Reeves
contends that, first Of all, II teaches a
man to obey orders and in this way TO
expect and demand obedience when he
may have occasion to give them in later
life, also that, aside from the physical
value Of the drill, il causes man to
form habits OF cleanliness. orderliness and
punctuality. wipes out selhshness and has
tendency 70 develop character and a
high sense Of honor.
The speaker stated that he did not
mean in any way to make light Of the
nor. military institutions, but he strongly
urged all vermonters 10 send their boys
TO institutions within the state.