Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-19
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Continued from Psse One
The decrease in six large agricultural col
Ieges is nearly 30 per cent
MANY AGRIcULTURIsTs TAKEN
The Governments campaign for large
numbers OF agricultural workers took many
from these colleges" said Doctor Capen
The subsequent uncertainty as 20 the
liability OF these men for military service
has operated TO prevent their return In
fact. the committee Is OF the opinion that
serious and perhaps irreparable damage
will be done to the productive forces Of the
country unless new and definite rulings are
secured, determining the status Of agricul-
tural college students"
Thirty per cent of the three upper classes
In thirty engineering schools are now in
the active service OF the nation. he showed,
going on to say that the committee had
therefore failed I'm one of its major en-
deavors. that is, to obtain a ruling allow
ing students in all technical branches to
finish their courses before being called upon
for military service.
The necessity Is greatest in engineering
and agricultural lines" said he. THE
country is just beginning to feel the pres
sure in both these lines
While military training courses had been
recommended for nearly every educational in
sttution in the country he said, two factors
are present to check their universal adop-
tion--the shortage OF officers OF the regu-
lar army as instructors and the shortage
Of military equipment However, the COM
mittee recommends such training as, essen
tial to capitalize the enthusiasm Of college
men Numerous engineering schools, he
said. had instituted courses In military map
making, military surveying, bridge-buildtng,
telegraphy, radio operation and signaling,
automobile repairing and other military sub
iects and extension OF these courses was
recommended
LABORATORIES MOBILIZED
A vast powerhouse Of military helpful
ness had been opened up to the Govern
ment he pointed out, by the mobilization
Of the research workers and the highly
equipped laboratories Of the nations eduCa-
tional institutions in behalf Of the Govern
ments war work. For military reasons. the
accomplishments of these scientific labora-
tories could not be disclosed until after the
end of the war. he said.
on the side Of humanitarian training,
Doctor Capen quoted the opinion Of Dart
mouth College as to the way I'm which col
leges might aid the Government. Col
legcs will perform incidental special serv-
ices to the nation read the report he
quoted, but. as distinguished from the
universities. the colleges should place
emphasis upon their duty of sticking to the
Job Of turning out educated men. For II
the spreading war Is proving the need OF
anything i'm the life OF mankind. II Is the
thinking even more than for technical pro-
hciency."
WAR TRAINING FOR WOMEN
Special wartime training for women stu
dents was a feature Of the report presented
by DR.. Frederick G. Ferry, president OF
Hamilton College, secretary of the college
and university division of the committee OF
engineering and education. The installation
of courses in home economies. with labora
tory work in cooking and preserving foods
sewing. economical housekeeping, Red Cross
work and home nursing. clerical work
which will enable men to be released foi
farm service. and courses in praCtiCa
gardening which will enable the student
20 teach others, were among those advo
Gated by the committee and already put
into operation in many instances.
Doctor Ferry referred to the commit
tees work in obtaining from President vii
son the recommendation that all schools
continue as far as possible their normal
activities during the war and outlined the
various additions TO their curricula which
the committee has recommended.
The card.indeXing" of the nature anC
amount of technical training possessed by
each of the 900 men already in tn,
draft cantonments. a gigantic task accom-
plshed by the War Department along lines
suggested by the engineering committee
was described by DR.. +. l.. Bishop, dean
of the University of Pittsburgh The com
nittee making a study of the technical
needs Of the army, in co-opera ton with the
General staff found that an army of 1.250.
900 men needs 35O00O specially trained
men, from technical engineers, physicists
and mathematicians down TO oXyacetylene
apparatus experts and telegraphers The