Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-10-05
YEARS PROGRAM AROUOUS
University of Vermont Progress
ing along Military Lines.
Nearly 800 Men In University Battalion
This Near-WiII become Federal
Unit Of Officers Reserve
Corps.

The University Of Vermont. which was
placed by the war department in the
distinguished class" of collegiate in
stitutions giving military instruction.
while Colonel Ira l.. Reeves, now presi-
dent of Norwich University. was profess
sor of military science and tactics and
commandant at the university, is going
to accomplish big things along military
lines this year, if the plans of Captain
Stuart a. Howard L. s. A., the present
military instructor at the university.
whose efficient leadership last year kept
Vermont in her present high rank. are
carried out. Captain Howard, with
battalion. which has increased from 212
men last year TO a strength OF $50 men.
with prospects OF a still larger enroll
ment is now busy with his school for
soldiers" in which, tho new men are being
instructed by the men who took the
military course last year. This work Will
continue during the month of October.
and if the weather is good some outdoor
work will be done in November. Captain
| Howard will make the most of the win
! ter months for his indoor work and lee
| lures, so that the spring may find the
battalion prepared TO take up field work.
preparatory to the manoeuvers Mt the
time the field inspection of the battalion
is made by an officer of the regular
army.
A federal unit consisting Of a battalion
| of 400 men which will he completely
equipped by the national government will
probably be established at the university
this year, the members of which will be
trained as members Of an officers reserve
corps In this connection Captain Howard
! observed that tho training OF oficers
lovershadowed that Of soldiers. since the
proper kind Of an officer could make good
soldiers out Of some pretty poor ma
terial. The strength of the battalion band
thas been doubled and nearly all OF the
men are now provided with instruments
and music. A good band is valuable
part Of battalion and Is absolutely
necessary at ali ceremonies In which the
organization takes part.
| Another fea ture Of military work which
is sure to he strongly emphasized tn =
wear is target practice. The University of
Vermont rifle team stood 18th in Class y
last year. with n total score OF SSH %
against S,alS for the Michigan Agricultural
College team, which stood first, defeating
the Washington State College team by Il
single point Captain Howard has al
ready selected 20 of the best shots in the
battalion for series of elimination tests
which will reduce the number to Is, from
whom the team will he finally picked. A
fine outdoor target range has been con-
structed in n depression back OF the ex
pertinent station. with telephone commu-
ncation from the target pit TO the rin =
mems station. convenience which vii,
be greatly appreciated by the marksmen.
who formerly had to tramp 900 yards, par;
of the way through swamp land. to asce"-
tain their scores. Practice on this go
yard range will he commenced at once.
The most convincing evidence of the
benefits which the men derived last yea
from their military course Is seen n
their work Of instructing the newcomers
to the battalion. Although temporarily
without the services of the battalion ma
ior, the officers and mtu have taken no r
of their work with plenty OF snap AMI
vim and are showing the desired results
; c company of the battalion will not thi'
year he national guard organization
the former members Of that company whc
were in the guard having been discharges
, on September 20 at Fort Ethan Allen. \
number of these men and also the mem
hers of the hospital corps who saw serv
ice at the horde- are showing an inn.
provement in their work as the results u
this experience.