Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22
PROPOSES PLAN TO GET
MORE RESERVE OFFICERS
Institutions Afrording Military In
struction Present Field for
Development.
GEN. NICHOLS OUTLINES IDEA
v. NJ. 1. Superintendent Sends Mem
orandum to Congressman Hay Sug-
costing Csc of Military Colleges in
increasing Preparedness for War.

Henera! E. w. Nichols, superintendent
oi the Virginia Military Institute. Lex
ingtoh. proposes the utilization OF tho
.'iii.ary schools and agricultural and
mechanical colleges in the country TO
create reserve list of officers for the
United States Army in the event of war
as we'll as to increase the efficiency of
inc organized militia in the various
states. He has forwarded to Congress-
man James Hay. chairman OF the
Miiitary Affairs Committee. House OF
representatives. memorandum en-
oodFin1 his Views on the subject
a basis for reserve corps of off,
GERS now exists as result of the
training received by cadets and stu
gents In schools and colleges. which
nave n course OF instruction i'm mill
tary training. General Nichols writes
ana he suggests that the idea can be
developed and enlarged satisfactorily
and conservatively In the following
ways:
l. BY modifying the existing laws re-
GardinS agricultural and mechanical
coiieSes. so that a certain minimum
or military instruction shall be given
Ihts minimum should be prescribed By
the Secretary of War and should be
sufficiently extensive to develop eff
Client reserve officers. In addition,
graduates OF these institutions should
be required to attend summer encamp-
..en'o ior Period OF years IN oroer
that they may secure tho intensive
training these maneuvers afford.
WOULD LIBERALIzE LAWS
AS TO HONOR COLLEGES
?. BY. making the laws and resula-
tions governing honor military col
leses. as defined and selected by the
War Department. more liberal under
either or both OF these plans-(a) by
giving each OF ten military colleges
selected annually by the department.,
the right to appoint ten second lieu
tenants In the regular army under such
restrictions as the Secretary of War
may prescribe, thus affording the army
100 additional officers each year; and
OBJ by permitting each state TO appoint
two cadets to ach Of these ten insti-
tutions on the same basis as 10 pay as
now exists at West Point.
AS there are forty-eight States. two
cadets from each to each of the ten
military institutions will keep $50
young men constantly training who. on
their graduation. will be available for
reserve officers. General Nichols sug-
gests that the graduates be required to
serve at least one year with the colors
with the pay and allowances OF second
lieutenants, giving them intensive
training in the command Of men.
To equip the graduates more thor
oughly. i, is proposed that ten from
each Of the honor colleges be sent to
the United States Military Academy at
West Point each year. and that the law
should be so framed that other grad
yates, who may so desire. may receive
similar appointments.
In concluding the memorandum. Cen
eral Nichols says:
The above plan. 1t Is believed. will
go far to solve the problem OF an EN-
c'ent reserve corps OF officers, and will
foster and develop the existing mill
tary colleges and schools. 1t will do
more-it Will result in propagatins a
knowledge of our military history and
methods and tend TO create other mill
tary institutions and agencies in the
various state. IT Will incidentally tend
20 foster and develop the National
Guard and increase it's efficiency"