Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-02-23
MOBILIz|NG RESOURCES
OF U. S. FOR WAR.
tBy Kenneth MacDougalD


NEW YORK, Feb. 23.-In the event
OF hostihties and the calling out OF
militia and volunteer troops, there
are many cadets in the various pri.
vate military institutions in the United
States who could speedily be made
available for second lieutenancies and
some higher ranks in the volunteer
forces.
One OF the most prominent insti-
tutions in the country from military
standpoint Is Norwich University, at
Norwich, VT, which has graduated
numerous men into the army as sec.
ond lieutenants. The graduating
class is between eighty and one hun
dred and twenty men every year, and
the institution has kept fairly good
track OF its available sons after they
have left college. At a conservative
estimate, Norwich could furnish a
thousand men who have passed an
examination required as entrance to
the regular army as second lieutenant
OF Infantry, five hundred second lieu
tenants Of cavalry and about three
hundred artillery second lieutenants.
Many OF the men have kept we'll
informed in military matters, while
others. OF course, would need consid,
cradle brushing up in modern tactics.
Norwich has maintained the same
standards of study and execution of
military drill that the cadets at West
Point are held to, and fully a sixth
OF its graduating classes have fol.
lowed an army career.
In training, the graduates are prob
ably superior In knowledge and exc
cutive ability TO two.thirds OF the
militia captains and some majors in
the national guard.
They have served under military
officers of the highest type for a four
year course. and during that time
have had to work hard and faithfully
in order to graduate.
A like condition is true Of perhaps
twenty-five other private military
schools In the United States desig
mated by the war department as
distinguished institutions" These
schools could bring to the colors
about 1000 fully or partially trained
lieutenants. Besides these there are
some ten thousand college men who
have attended training camps like
Plattsburg, and who in a short time
could be whipped into good enough
shape to take command OF volunteer
infantry.
The Culver school at Culver, Indi.
ana, is perhaps close second to
Norwich University as regards cav.
airy material. The showing made by
Culver boys while stationed on the
border in the recent mobilization at.
tracted widespread attention among
army men.
The engineering corps of the regu
lar army could be readily recruited in
officers and men from the civil popu,
latlon engaged in similar pursuits as a
daily occupation. The supremacy of
concrete construction in this country
would indicate there would be no trou.
BILE in securing enough capable engi.
neers and non-commissioned officers
TO erect or construct necessary gun
emplacements and addition defences.
The signal corps picked from civi
lians engaged In like work would
soon be IA good as the regular units
In fact probably better, as the clas!
of men in the New York militia unit!
of that branch Of service made tn,
regulars on the border recently SIT III
and eat humble pie.
There are more civilian aviators
than there are regular army aviators
and from present indications the for
mer are more experienced.
The European war has shown that
II does not take long 20 instruct
military aerial observers and these
could be trained in q short time.
The Intelligence corps, which was
proposed by member OF the Ameri
can Legion, but which was not adopted
by the war department for some un
known reason, is branch Of the ser
vice which in Europe has been OF in
estimable value.
While tho secret service OF tho
United States IL one OF the best or.
gsnizations OF it's kind in tho world
It does not cover the military side
to the proper extent. II would, OF
course. take time to develop this
branch OF service, but II should be
developed without delay. Some mill.