New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-22
College Training Camps Rejected
IVhv Are Such Units as the Harvard o. T. Ignored BY the
General Staff?

tories where student officers could be prop
erly housed. Their kitchens are equipped ior
catering 70 large numbers Of men, their m
6rmaries and laboratories would be invalu-
able. and their corps of instructors would
always be on hand to meet any technical
points that army officers could not cover On
the other hand, at Plattsburg and other
training camps the men are Improperly
housed, and we all know lack of sleep is not
advisable with intensive training. Food, IN
stead of being served from well prepared
kitchens. is half cooked in the open; there is
no provision for laboratory work. and the
trained minds of old instructors in trajectory
surveying are. of course. lacking.
Thorough Intensive Training
Long before there was an actual thought
of draft Harvard University organized
regiment for the training OF officers Inc
American Ambassador in France applied 10
the French government for proper IN
structors TO work in cooperation with officers
of the United States army, who were also
appointed for that purpose. There are over
1000 men, and the members OF the pres
ent Harvard Officers Reserve Corps,
all Of whom have given up their studies
voluntarily, are paying their own eX-
penSeS, even fOr IntlT own looN' 1A'N'
are drilling twelve hours a day under con-
ditions that are almost ideal. They
are taught the proper French terms, the
method of attack and defence that is used
by Germans and French, well as being
drilled by American offcers-Captains
Cordier. Bowen and Shannon, Of the United
States army-in the manual OF arms, march-
ing. skirmishing. etc. This intensive train
Ina ms nor
ton by Major General Edwards, commander
of the Department of the Northeast, showed.
In his report he states that the Harvard
regiment shows great efficiency, and ms
comparison is that they are second only to
West Point.
These student officers have prepared a die
tionary of French and English phrases that
are used in warfare. They are taught 70
thoroughly understand each word and
can receive the command we'll In
French as in English, and see that it is car
ried out. As the American troops are to be
under direct command of French officers in
this war, it will readily be seen that this point
Is most valuable. officers trained under
such conditions as exist at Cambridge will
be well prepared to take command OF any
troops intrusted to them. French as well as
French warfare terms which they use include
ombardiers, boyau trench and barrage FIRE.
and are thoroughly understood.
As second officers training camps are 10
be opened in August By the government, why
would it not be more sane and practical to
accept The offers of the colleges throughout
the country and have the officers instructed
at these seats of learning, where the equip
ment is complete. with dormitories, kitchens,
hospitals and drill fields?
Instruction in smaller units could then be
given, and the students, aware of their suff-
cient knowledge, would then feel that they
were capable of taking care Of the men in
trusted in their charge.
The splendid plants of Harvard. Yale, Cor
nell and many Western colleges stand ready
and vacant What is the reason? L. J. b.
New York, June 10. 1917.