The Washington times., 1917-04-06
PRINCETON READY
TODO Bit FOR US.
Practically All Students Of
College Enrolled for Mill
tary Service.

PRINCETON, April 6.-Believing
that it can be a matter of only few
days before the United States will be
at war with Germany, Princeton is
making preparations for any eventu-
ality which may arise. President
Hibben, who has been one OF the
strongest supporters OF the prepared
ness programs, said today that in
case of war, while academic work
will be continued at Princeton, the
scholastic work will be lightened and
more time devoted to military ac-
tivities.
The university grounds and build
ings have been offered by President
Hibben to the War Department as a
training ground. Besides this effort
to establish military center at
Princeton, IL II is necessary, various
measures have been developed to
give an opportunity to the students
to prepare themselves for one OF the
several branches OF military service.
The laboratories have been placed
at the service OF the National Re
search Council and the STAFF OF
scientific men stand ready to drop
their academic work and work on any
problems which confront the council.
Practically the entire student
body, with many members of the
faculty, have enrolled in the infantry
drilling. in the proposed. airplane
corps, or in the naval coast reserve.
Infantry drilling includes more than
300 students, who will in all proba-
bility be recognized as a r. o. t. Z.
by the War Department. Should the
Government consent, the Princeton
unit will be equipped with rides and
uniforms. Up to last week the train
ing was conducted in the gymnasium,
but with the coming OF favorable
weather the drilling has been carried
on outdoors during the last few days,
where 1t will continue.
What brings Joy TO the hearts of
the students is the sight OF the dean
of the university, Howard McLena.
han, drilling in line with the rest OF
the infantry. When II comes to dis
tinguishing between his right and
left, the dean has found that difficulty
just as perplexing as 1t is for the stu
dents.
For the proposed airplane corps
more than 200 men have signed, and
the committee Of undergraduates is
now practically assured of having
machines here within a short time.
The corps will be entirely independent
OF Government supervision and the
alumni who are backing the plan will
defray the expense of machines and
mechanics and pilots. For the first
squad OF thirty men who will be
selectedIto receive training with the
machines a rigid competitive physical
examination will be held shortly. A
camp will be established at Prince
ton, where the students will be in
structed daily until they can handle
efficiently their machines, after
which a new squad will be chosen.
No selection has been made so far
of an instructor. but an officer OF the
club declared today that a man with
experience in France would most
likely be chosen.
Signifying their intention OF becom-
ing members OF a Naval Coast Re-
serve corps $50 men have enrolled. In
line with the system which has proved
so successful in England IT is the in
tention OF the Government to enroll
10000 men, preferably college men, for
the handling OF the small craft in
coastal protection. Captain Uttmark,
OF the New York Navigation School,
will have charge OF a course at
Princeton in navigation and signaling
both by the wigwag system and the
Morse code. The men are required,
moreover, to have three months OF
active service within four years. after
which they will qualify for a pro-
visional rating by taking a prescrib-
ed examination.