Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29
v. P. |. is NOW WORKING
ON THOROUGH WAR PLAN
Drills. lectures and Target Prncticr
occupy Every Spare Minute
In Cadets Schedule.
Especial to The Times Dispa,ch.l

Captain C. g. Carson. commandant OF
cadets at the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitutc. has been appointed by the
for applicants for the Reserve Officers
Corps at Fort Mycr. There are only
Two other points in the State where
these examinations are held--one at
Roanoke. similar 10 the one here, and
one at Norfolk, for engineers.
The entire office force is busy with
examining applicants for the Fort
Myer camp. !, is estimated that
about half the senior and Junior class
es are applying for the camp. y
large number Of the students who de-
sire to apply are deOarred on ac-
count OF the minimum age limit. which
has been fixed by tho War Depart
nent at twenty years md nine months
In addition to the seniors applying for
commissions in the Reserve Officers.
Corps. three seniors are now at Fort
Monroe being examined for commits
sions in the regular army. and six have
b.en selected for the marine corps.
AS the military department has. since
January J. been a unit in the Reserve
Officers Corps OF the United States
army. the institution has been in
close touch with national military af-
fairs. and military matters have been
going on here a. lively pace ever
since the spring weather permitted.
Not only has the daily drill been held.
but large amount Of extra work has
been voluntarily done by the cadets.
Two United States Army sergcants
nave been assisting the commandant:
one OF them having been here since
January |. and the other since April
/. One is we'll known an expert
in infantry drill, and the other as An
expert in rife practice, and the
cadets have been taking the work
under these officers. az we'll as under
the commandment, with great enthu-
siasm.
There have been two and half
hours military work in the afternoon
devoted TO target practice on the
range, and the whole OF Saturday after
noon has been spent in this way. AS
great as the enthusiasm Is for athletics
The cadets have not allowed intercol-
lcEiatc baseball games TO interfere
with practice. Immediately after sup
per there is a lecture in the assembly
hall by Captain Carson. or one of the
Scrgeants, on military science. This
is principally for those who may be
called upon TO drii! recruits or act as
officers In the army. \ Red Cross
surgeon from the United States Army
WAS obtained and conducted a series OF
daily lectures for Two weeks Red
Cross work. These attracted Il srea;
deal OF interest were well attended,
and proved of great benefit.
YOUNGER STUDENTS ALSO
ORGANIZE TO DRILL,
Besides these special drills and lee
lures Cor the corps. postgraduates.
special students, the younger members
OF the faculty, and some of the men in
tho community have been organized
into company and have special
drill three afternoons each week. The
students in the public school also APP
piled for military training and the
military department has been giving
them regular drills.
But for the fact that II was we'll
known here that the corps would not
be permitted by the War Department
to volunteer as unit. a movement of
this kind would undoubtedly have been
made. II was recognized however.
that il would not become the corps TO
volunteer. since il was already 4 unit
OF the training corps or the United
States Army. II has not been found
necessary for the authorities OF the
institution 10 attempt TO arouse the
interest of the alumni. since the
offices OF the commandment the pres
ident the dean OF the faculty
and the registrar have been kept busy
answering letters from alumni volun-
teering their services with the V. p.
|. cadets il the corps should be ac-
ccpted as unit in the army; and
numbers OF the alumni have already
applied for commissions In the Of
hcers' Reserve Corps
Two weeks ago President Eggles-
ton. believing that il would meet the
approval OF the board Of visitors of
the institution. wrote a letter TO the
Secretary of War Offering the entire
college plant rs training school
during the summer for officers for
the Reserve Corps. This was done
before the governments plan was an
nounccd that seventeen camps would
be openeC with $500 men at each
camp IL is not known yet whether
the War Department will avail itself
OF this OFFER. which is still open. The
board OF visitors. at its meeting at
iiollins on April -. passed a resolu-
tion heartily approving OF this step
taken by President Eggleston and ex-
pressing its appreciation of the va
rious preparedness activities entered
upon by The authorities of the insti-
tute. and Of the enthusiasm and inter-
est shown by the corps.
Professor r.. Il. II Besg. head Of
the civil engineering department. has
received his commission as captain OF
engineers. and has been ordered To
report to Fort Myer on May 3.
Professor j s. \. johnson, a form
ar commandant at this institution
and now professor OF experimental
engineering. has been ordered TO Fort
Myer and has reported there.
Professor G.. p. Bright, associate in
civil engineering. has been ordered to
report 10 Captain Carson for exam
nation for the Officers Reserve Corps.
Professor l.. :. Randolph, dean of
the engineering department and pro-
fcsSor of mechanical engineering. has
been accepted for class r, reserve en-
gineers.
:. ID. Bedinser has taken the exam
ination and has been appointed sec
ond lieutenant in the regular army, and