Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
STUDENTS TO FORM
A NEW BATTALION
st. Johns College for Boys Be-
ing Drilled by Maj.
Dapray.
OTHER SCHOOLS PLAN
MILITARY COMPANIES
Gonzaga Has Applied to the War
Department for an Instructor,
It Is Announced


to the school as military instructor
and has inaugurated an intensive drill
system in order to get the young men
trained in the shortest time possible.
The Job of instructor, according to Maj.
Dapray, is a difficult one in this in
stance and requires a lot of work, be-
cause the officers for the new organiza-
ton have to be trained at the same
time as the enlisted men, so-called. or
prfvates and non commissioned officers.
Several other schools and colleges OF tho
District are expected to have student
military organizations in the future. 1t is
understood, and Maj. Dapray also is ex-
pected to be assigned as Instructor to
these schools Maj. Dapray said last
night that he had had no information that
other colleges were to be added to his
list here. but he indicated that he would
gladly accept the additional RESPONSE
bility.
Gonzaga College Applies.
The Gonzaga College. it was made
known by the institution. had applied for
the assignment of a military instructor
from the army for a battalion of cadets
to be formed there. This college some
years ago had a cadet corps
The greater part of Mai. Dapray's
time since his retirement, and much of
the time before his retirement, was
spent in Washington. He was at one
time military aid to the President and
served as inspector instructor Of the
District of Columbia militia and later
as its adjutant general The latter
commission he held only for about six
months of the three-year detail. At
the time he was serving as adjutant
general his regiment was ordered in
the field. and following an unwritten
rule of the service. he resigned and
went with his command. He was for
merly military instructor of the cadets
~ hA No.
and his name was mentioned in connec
ton with the assignment as military
instructor of the cadets of the WASH
ington high schools. He is an enthu-
siast in the work of instructing young
men in the elements of military tactics
and is a strong believer in the training
of youth of the schools so that they
will be eligible to hold commissions in
the volunteer service.
Washington" said Maj. Dapray to q
reporter for The Star, lis ahead of all
other cities in the good work Of the or
ganization of students into military bodies.
and this new departure in giving TO
Washington for the first time in it's
history. full encouragement to its pub
lie and private schools, in the way Of
full and competent military instruc-
ton, is a matter of great Importance
to the parents Of the boys.
Obligations of Service. y
Military service carries two obliga-
tons Of a reciprocal nature. II the
state Is entitled to the service of the
citizen in time OF war or other emer-
gency, then the citizen is entitled to be
instructed by the state in time of peace
how to deport himself in war or other
dangerous positions in which the state
might place him. 1t would be murder
these times to rush a lot of recruits
onto a battlefield, especially under I'M
trained officers.
This plan Of teaching the schoolboys
how to become officers in the emer-
gencies of national dangers ought to
be of great interest to parents, who
should see at once the advantage OF
preparing their boys to be officers in.
stead of privates. The theory of all
military schools is to make the stu
dents officers and not privates.
For myself, 1 may say that l am
now and have been for years past an
enthusiastic advocate of the policy Ia
train our youths in the cardinal prin-
ciples of military science and tactics
/ have chosen military instructional
work because l like it and believe, in
it. 1t is the one promise of sure Sc
curement of competent commissions
officers of our volunteer armies when
they may be suddenly needed, and 1T
must be regarded as matter of re-
greet that in times past the full ad-
vantage was not taken of the oppor-
"
by existing laws to list and enroll the
output of the military educational in
situations in this country. We are
doing that now. and have been for the
past two or three years, and II one
reads the recent statements made by
the Secretary of War before the SEN
ate committee on military affairs you
must see the advantage and wisdom
of encouraging military education and
training in the colleges and schools.
May Be Gonzaga Instructor.
Discussing the question OF whether he
would be assigned to Gonzaga College.
Maj. Dapray said:
1T Is too soon yet to discuss what
action may be officially taken in re-
gard to other local institutions. but ]
am free to say that if the college you
have mentioned is added TO my task OF
the pride that ] shall feel
will only be doubled, and the results
will be of double advantage to the fed
eral governmental plan to extend ana
encourage military training OF youths
Of school and college age.
81 have reason to assume that there
nay be another college in this city soon
assigned to me. or rather l may be as
signed to additional duty at another
college, here. but l have no official in
on that subject.
MY work at st. Johns has already
begun and is well under way. The
arms ana nave Deen
The uniforms of the cadets have been
ordered and the work of the organi-
,ation is about completed. 1 have as
IN assistant Sergt. Goldblott, L. s. A.
-etired, who was with me in the reg
liar service. He is an excellent drill
master for the recruits. and, inasmuch
Is St. Johns has never had military
before, the boys may all
,e classed as recruits.
Pleased With the Progress.
But the enthusiasm is fine and 1 am
more than gratified over the progress
Llready made. 1t is no easy matter
O organize a battalion of three COM
,anies of young soldiers, and at the
anne time create and instruct their Off
ers, but where the boys are above
he average in intelligence and enthu
ism there need be no apprehension. /
m going to make st. Johns College
adets, in their West Point pattern
informs, a pride to this city
The boys are now drilling on the
chool grounds six days a week, but
TAI. Dapray indicated that this would
e cut in half as soon as the battalion
vas fully organized and equipped. He
Indicated that they had made so much
rogress in the past week that in two
,ore weeks they will be able to go on
he street to drill and will make an
orms of the various schools will be
( the West Point pattern. and will
. all alike in the event other schools
re assigned to Mai. Dapray. they will
ave q distinguishing mark in the way
2 braid of the school color around the