The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-18
STATE UNIVERSITY
AMONG COLLEGES
TO MAKE SOLDIERS
Official Authorization for
Military Training Given
Is Institutions Repre-
scented at Conference

Washington, October fan official au-
thorization for the training in military
science of students in 16 of the country
leading universities and colleges, including
the University of Alabama, University of
Tennessee and Clemson college. was given
by the war department today to executive
officers of the institutions, at a confer
ence between them and ranking depart
ment officials. Other Institutions author
lied today to give military instruction
are Princeton university. Harvard uni
versity, Yale university. University OF
Michigan, Virginia, Military Institute.
Stevens Institute of Technology, Catholic
University of America Lehigh unfver-
sity, Ohio State university, University or
Minnesota, University of Illinois. City col
lege of New York and University of YER
mont.
The purpose of the conference was to
establish a systematic method for train
ing reserve officers along lines described
by the army reorganization law. 1t has
been estimated that corps of $1,000 re-
serve officers will be necessary to estab-
lish an adequate military force should
the United States become involved in
war with first-class world power.
In the absence of Secretary Baker, who
issued the invitation to the college and
university heads, the conference was pre-
sided over by Acting Secretary Ingra-
ham and officers present including Ma
jor General Hugh L Scott, chief of staff;
Major General Leonard Wood command
ing the eastern department; Brigadier
General Macomb. president of the war
college, and members of the general staff.
Presidents Lowell of Harvard and Had
ley of Yale, together with a number of
the prominent educators, delivered ad-
dresses Southern college heads present
included George A. Denny, University OF
Alabama; E. w. Nichols, Virginia Mill
tary Institute; j H. Kirkland, Wander
bilt; Brown Ayers, Tennessee, and Will
liam Riggs, Clemson.
The conference was.a general informal
discussion of the law authorizing army
training in civil institutions. and of ways
and means for putting it into effect. The
general impression of the speakers was
that the regulations as prescribed by the
statutes were not sufficiently elastic and
should be modlned so that IL might ne
better adapted to the various types Of
educational institutions represented.
Mr.. Ingraham appointed a committee
composed of President Lowell Maj. John
j. Kingman, u. s. A; Capt e. w. Mich
OILS, Virginia Military Institute: the Rev.
Edward A. Pace, Catholic University of
America; President II. S. Dinker, Lehigh;
President w. o. Thompson. Ohio State
university, and President George E. Vim
cent, University of Minnesota, to work
out curriculum acceptable to the va
rious institutions and the government.
and to arrange other details for the actual
beginning of instruction.
The curriculum will be drafted to cover
such subjects as are known to junior
army officers and will exempt graduates
of such institutions from the necessity
of taking the regular army examination
in order to obtain commissions as re-
serve officers. 1t will be made effective
when completed by a general order is
sued by the Secretary of War. Many
other educational institutions are expect
ed to install military training courses
later.
The conference concluded its work to-
night and adjourned to await the com
mittee's report.