The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-24

Continued rom FGst Page.
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definite, decided step forward will soon
De taken toward placing the United
States in position successfully to de.
fend itself against attack and invasion
from whatever source or direction
such assault may come.
That IL IL highly important for the
country to understand the true situa-
ton is evidenced by tho painstakins
are with which the Adjutamk- General
replies to a long list Of questions O v
ering almost every conceivable phase
Of the subject. Let It be said at the
outset that while only an inhnitesimal
number Of such formsr students are
fitted to-day to serve a. of1cers the
principal difficulty does not seSm to be
with the colleges themselves, or with
the army Instructors. The dimculty
seems to be with the system.
II is estimated that during the last
ten years from $1,000 to $4,000 young
men have been graduated from insti-
tutions where military instruction was
given. These men are still young
enough to take the field. and every
one Of them ought TO bS competent
to handle recruits. A. q matter Of
fact the number 20 aualided IL very.
very small indeed: but the names and
addresses Of this small majority are
on file at the War Department, ready
for use when need c0mes The names
and addresses Or many others also
are on file: "but owing to their entire
separation from everything which 10
military writes the Ad1utAnt-0eneral
their use 10 quite problematical, and
therefore they annct be considered q
military asset
That tells the story, and clearly
shows where the system itself IN to
blame. Year after year nearly 100
institutions have been graduating
men trained by officers Of the United
states army. and those students have
successfully demonstrated to examin-
ing boards from the War College that
they were fitted to serve a. company
officers. Then almost all of these
young men upon graduating went into
business or professional life, became
absorbed in their work and lost all
touch with military matters. And
now. having made careful inquiry. the
War Department finds that the over
whelming majority cannot be consid-
cred a military asset"
There il little doubt that when the
1000 or $1,000 students were grad
uated they We're competent to handle
volunteer recruits. But during the
past decade methods Of warfare have
been revolutionized. The business Of
war ia conducted on principles as new
az are those Of any other business
mercantile. financial, industrial. The
difficulty lies in the fact that Com
uress has made no prov ision for keep
ing the graduates under occasional
instruction year by year; for passing
measures TO establish mt maintain q
corps Of reserve officers who should
keep M with changing conditions.
Thus falls To- the ground another
illusion cherished by ultra peace advo-
Gates opposed To adequate military
preparedness. They have taken II for
granted that the graduates referred
to are fully competent to serve a.
officers. In view Of the actual facts
here revealed BY the Secretary OF War
through the Adjutant Generals state
ment II would seem that the time has
come to put in operation the plans
~ TO he brought forward for formal
consideration.
II may be added that during the last
W. years, Since Mr.. Garrison frst
entered the Cabinet. he has fully APP
treciate1 ,ba ip,pnrfan,. NJ .hi, ,,t,,.-
ton. one result il that decided i'm
provement has been made in a number
of institutions providing military in
.struction, and that the War Depart
ment has ready for Use the names and
addresses Of young men graduated
during 1919. 1914 and 1915 who have
been recommended by school OF college
authorities as hav!ng shown special
aptitude for military service.
The War Department does lot pro-
pose TO urge the institutions which
provide military instruction 20 draw
unduiy upon their time or resources In
doing their part toward atandardiziuR
military courses OF study.
All the present time" the Adjutant-
General continued, the only thing re-
quired is the concession on the part
of the land grant institutions for pro-
viding at least n more hour a week.
which will cover theoretical instruc-
tion, leaving the remainder Of the time
for practical work with the organiza-
tons tof students1. Greater interest
already Is evident since AN increase OF
practical work WAS instituted at these
schools. This tactical training involves
the solution of map problems, mai
an,puv and tactical walks. curry
ing on the instruction by the applica-
tory plan. The results IN the last two
years have been very satisfactory"
Regarding private military acaie-
mics to which army officers are detailed
the same supervision OF the War De-
partment exists A. over the land grant
colleges: the same machinery IS pro-
vided for their inspection and for
handling matters pertaining to their
courses Of instruction and routine du-
ties. As a rule, however. the boys who
graduate from these military acade-
mics are so young in years AZ tn pre-
clude their use as officers for first line
troops.
"They receive considerable discipline
and training at formal drill exercises
al these institutions says the Adult
~ant-General, but only q few OF them
have attained sufficient maturity or
have had the academic training equal
to a "a coming from the college type
of institution.
Among graduates of the academies
there are, Of course, a few exceptional