Evening journal., 1917-12-04

At a recent meeting Of the Advisory /
Committee Of University and College /
Presidents on Military Training Camps,
held in New York City, the following
Resolution was unanimously passed:
"Re-olved, that we advocate the adop-
tion, for the period Of the War, Of a
continuous system for the training Of
officers, using for this purpose camps
already successfully established, segre-
gated from the cantonments and camps
established for the training Of soldiers,
open 10 applicants from civilian sour
ces on the same basis as in the second
series OF Officers Training Camps, as
well as to selected men from the
troops in service
Copies OF the resolution were sent to
| the Secretary Of War, as 10 Is under
stood that the entire question Of the
policy to be adopted by future Training
/ Camps is at present under discussion
by the Department.
The Officers Training Camps held
this summer at Platt burg, Fort Sher-
idan, Fort Myer Fort Oglethorpe and
elsewhere, have all been an unqualified
success The 27,OOO officers graduated
from the first camps are now the ac-
tive younger officers training the draft
army so successfully The men in the
Second Oflcers' Camps are said to be
of even higher quality. The Government
has spent hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars erecting barracks, and install
ing the necessary equipment at these
points There has gradually accumu-
lated an immense mass Of material,
suitable for an Officers Training
School An experience that is simply
invaluable has been gained at the pres
ent schools a corps Of instructors, OF
the highest personnel, has also gradu-
ally been acquired and trained at these
splendid officers schools. It would,
therefore, seem the most obvious thing
TO continue holding further officers
camps in these same officers schools,
where their success has been so
marked.
The War Department, however, IN
nounced some time ago, that the OIL
GERS camps beginning January 3, would
be held in the Army Divisions them
selves at the camps and cantonments
In other words, unless there is an I'M
modiate change in the plans as an
nounced, future officers schools Will
be neld IN the cantonments, places
y hich IRE primarily schools for sol
diers and where, necessarily, the
training Of officers would become
mere side issue. The cantonments have
their own work and their own cares
They are raw and new To start an Of
fcers' school in a soldiers camp the!
would have TO select a corps Of instruc
tors. Naturally, the Commanding Cen
eral would use his best instruc
nd
schools would become secondary. Thl
cantonments and camps have no quar-
ters suitable for lecture halls or drill
halls. They have only crowded bar
racks The proposed officers school
, would simply multiply the dinlcultie
Of the situation, whereas, in the pres
ent admirable officer camp sites, ther
are permanent barracks built Of bricl
we'll lighted and steam heated; theI
are ample lecture halls; there are lars
gymnasium and riding halls that al
A used for drill halls. The present on
:, GERS camps have given the most mo-
IL ern instruction Their trench system
10 have been very generally praised as b
ing absolutely modern and scientil
y built as they were under the immeC
, ate instruction Of foreign officers WI
had seen active service in France.
" The primary object Of the Janua
Is camp. is 10 train selected enlisted me
2 now in the service, who have been T
l. commended for commissions II hi
been well suggested that the psycnolo
ical effect upon the soldier would
Il vastly greater should he be sent aw'
y from the cantonment, where he had h
primary drilling as a soldier, to one
= the well-known Officers TrainiI
:, Camps. where the atmosphere, wo
and associates would all be that Of q
Il ncers only. Such a change would ma
him feel that the Government Is homo
q ing him by giving him this opporiu
,r ity to win a commission. II would
= the same effect as sending a prlNa
% from the Regular Army to West Poll
s. II the soldier is left in the canto
rnent. he has a change In work on
K as his surroundings are otherwise I
Same. The camps-Plattsburg, TT. Sh'
idan. etc, have prestige, they me
much TO the enlisted man, the pub
"a and the country. They inspire con
as cence.
nt Arguments rapidly multiply the
=, selves and indeed all seem to be agaii
- abandoning these most succe sful
ca 0cers' camps. II is like abandoning
Id successful going concern to try n
lie makeshift.
ne It would seem TO be time that so
definite policy as to future ONCE
camps be adopted II America Is
furnish the millions OF men demand
'es by our Allies, there must be a pier
Is full supply Of officers, not only for
lat present organizations, but to train
,.r future increments in the National
niles, and In reserve to supply
10 heavy wastage which Is bound to
suit as som as our troops go into
tion. WAY not decide now on a detir
,ht policy? Why take the matter up an
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