Imperial Valley press., 1916-02-16
By Charles II. Newell

Cheyenne, Wyo, Feb. 15.-Are
Americans going to hire an army and
refuse to be their own army?
No. Not if the boys of the State
Of Wyoming can help it,.
Fol the Swiss army plan, proposed
by many as the solution of America S
problem of preparedness, has already
been adopted in Wyoming. And is
today being practiced in a slightly
modified form. This state is giving
official financial aid to cadet corps
in the High Schools-and providing
an object lesson for the entire ma
ton.
Seven Wyoming cities have cadet
corps. The movement is the out
growth of the original corps estab-
lished in Cheyenne, the capital, five
years ago. This first corps COM
prised so students-volunteers
! came here expecting to find some
such hit-or-miss cadet system as that
in which I drilled at Oklahoma City
High School Is years ago.
[ was amazed at find military train
ing as carefully provided for in the
high schools of this state as other
training. Cheyenne High has added
| fundamental military training to those
studies commonly offered in most high
schools.
The cadet system began as a purely
voluntary organization. The first
corps was organized by Lieutenant
/ Edgar Z. Steever Of the regular army
detailed to instruct the Wyoming Ma
tional Guard.
His natural ability to lead made it
easy for him to interest so boys. They
bought their own uniforms, paying
$15 each. They showed such earnest
ness and proficiency that Steever soon
was able to get the use of militia
arms for their drills.
The Cheyenne cadets steadily won
recognition and support from the
school authorities and the state militia.
Then Uncle Sam stepped in and Of
fered them regular army guns II
member of the school board and the
superintendent of schools would give
bond guaranteeing their return.
Uncle Sam also offered to give the
cadets 12O rounds of ammunition an
nualy for target practice.
Students at Casper, Laramie and
Rawlins high schools organized cadet
corps before state aid for the work
was available. Newcastle, douglas
and Lander organized last fall.
The state now pays Sc toward each
cadets uniform, providing he refrains
from the use of tobacco during the
school year.
Steever injected a strong element of
sport into the drill work from the be-
ginning. He made it seem like play
instead of work.
"You kids don't have to join this
corps unless you want to- Steever
told them. 81 want as big corps as
possible, but won't stand for any
monkey business
The indoor work today consists in.
thorough drill in the manual OF arms
same as the regular army uses--ln
Butts manual, said to be the most
thorough system of physical exercises
ever devised, and a perpetual monu-
ment to Major Archie Butt, who dieo
on the Titanic, and in exciting wall
scaling contests.
In the fall and spring the cadets in
dulee in outdoor drill and marching
and maneuver evolutions.
In the spring the cadets gets their
target practice-one of the most tas-
cinating and exciting phases of their
education. They shoot at targets at
100, 200, 800, 400, 500 and 600 yards,
and show averages that beat the mi
litia.
Crdwning the years military train
ing, the cadets are taken on two
weeks hike or camping trip to the
Pole mountain military reservation, 26
miles from here. Funds to defray
the expenses of this trip are raised
bv tournaments during the winter.
The Wyoming cadet system is a
modification of the Swiss army plan"
said Superintendent Ira B. Fee. sit
is non-compulsory, democratic, IN
thorough keeping with the policy Of
the nation, and it works because fun
damentally it appeals to the boys.
"At first the cadets drilled in their