New-York tribune., 1916-02-18
A LEADER IN PREPAREDNESS
The Record of Norwich University
an Inspiration.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: There is "a great stir in this county
for preparedness and great many Of Orr
wealthy citizens are contributing funds io'
up-,o-date equipment for our state militia
This is fine thing to do, and we are a
envious of those who can afford 10 do IT, *
when read Of the many gifts 20 our mi-a
and consider all the advantages our mills
already has. compared with certain orgarin
tions Of which 7 am going 70 tell yon' 2
makes me feel that | must proclaim ths''
facts or forever hold my peace.
At Norwich, VI, in 1919. "a certain vel
known gentleman. Captain Alden Parir'ls'
founded what was then the American Liter
ary. Scientific and Military Academy" the mrs.
military institution, apart from West Pon'.
in the land. If you Will read the history o.
this grand institution, which later became
Norwich University, you will find that Captain
Partridge had the same ideas Of preparedness
hat We have to-day. lie organized the hr'
citizens training camp, and the credit 0.
these new ideas must be given to him. Nhe'
Dartmouth was in its infancy there was gFe''
competition between the two institutions sep
arated only by the Connecticut River
Norwich University, at Norwich, W. Ns
burned down, and it seemed as though "
could never recover from this loss, but WIZ
state aid. it rose from what seemed It's nor
tai wound and was reestablished al NofA'
field. W. There this institution has strug'
gled for many years, receiving no parteu.S'
credit for its glorious record OF belng ''
finest military college next TO our We
Point-in the country. See the report o. .,'
government inspections. This university n0D,
the record over all colleges in the country o.
having placed a greater percentage oi ~
graduates in the army at the time oi %.
Civil and Spanish-American wars. suca n''
as Admiral Dewey, Generals Dodge ho"'.1
Admiral Colvocoresses, etc, look upon l's 80
stitution as the dearest place on earth'
To-day Norwich University is the only coz
lege where the undergraduate body all 81
members Of the state militia. It has pr0a"'''
more men who are fitted as reserve om'''
than any other institution, and siill Is 00'"'
the work quietly and modestly
Norwich University has always ied j" =.
ideas for the training of our citizens sn' ~
present policy proves this. All Of ITS o'ss..
cation is now cavalry and the last insps'.tsS y,
in his report. says that he considers ~ '"'
best cavalry organization IN the eoun',;; ..,.
This summer Norwich University WIZ ~. W.,
duct the first citizens training camp -
attempted by any college. II has pIO'-'c,,
the flower of the army as Instructors ia.
as General Wood. and the institution i' uO'-s
this. not for pecuniary reasons out 10 .',.. .s,
out the idea of its founder-that a .s'', !,
must be prepared to defend the r'S"''
freedom. ......,o, A.
Now. do you think that an inst'tu'.o" os.
this kind should be hidden away from H.'ss
Young men Just because it hasn't enVS, 80.
funds to advertise? Do you not 'n'ns -, 4,
il deserves all the publicity possible ~, ~. m
wonderful achievements and Tor Us and
glorious work. so that its halls may O,..,si,i
to ovorAowing and It's great WORK mu'sl Kin
hundredfold? II does not ask ior ~, oi
hut there is no place in any depar'lnIsr. ,,ors
our militia where new equipment a.e ,e..si.s
funds would be as useful as at the
University. w,rr,CE.
(REv.) WM. SEWARD WALL.,e,y W.-..,,r
Not an alumnus OF Norwich Oh''''
Astoria, L. l., Feb. s, 1910.