New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-12
N0RWICH'S NEED
"New Eng!and's West Point" Handicapped
in Imparting Military Training

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: On February II the Rough Riders
Association will hold benefit performance
at the Hippodrome to raise funds for a riding
hall and stables for Norwich University. "the
West Point of New England" Colonel Roose-
welt and General Wood are working with
united efforts to do something worth while
Tor this institution, which has produced more
military leaders than any other college in
this country excepting West Point.
/ Does 1t seem possible in these DAYS Of pros
perity that men of such wonderful influence
should have to go to this great effort to raise
money for college that has a record eauale ed
by none! Norwich for nearly century has
been graduating engineers trained both for
war and peace and each graduate in time OF
war worth his weight in gold to the army.
Nearly the whole military education of this
country IS due TO Captain Partridge. the
founder OF Norwich, whose graduates have
established military academies and colleges
everywhere. Norwich to-day is continuing
its valuable service to the government. and
only recently became the only cavalry unit of
the Reserve Officers Training Corps.
The Rough Riders Association is raising
funds for Norwich because it values this
service rendered TO the nation. If such men
value Norwich, why has the institution been
neglected ty men who give millions every
year to our universities? Norwich has a few
rich alumni and those few have sacrificed q
great deal for their alma mater The col
lege owes its very existence TO General Gren-
vile VI. Dodge and few other alumni. The
university in its new growth, caused by the
preparedness movement. really must look u
other men than its graduates 20 give in guam
titles large enough to be OF real help. The
work Of the Rough Riders Association for
these reasons should be highly praised.
AT present Norwich is educating more
cadets than it can accommodate and the
extra work and discomfort caused by this
crowding are being borne by Colonel Ira l.
Reeves and Major Frank Tompkins and fac
| ulty without complaint, as that is the true
Norwich University spirit. Norwich needs
new barracks, riding hall. stables and com
mons hall, and if there is still red American
blood she ought to get them at once
/ On February II the Hippodrome will see
/ the finish of a race novel to this country
/ Norwich will place several squads of cadets
each squad mounted on different breeds OF
army horses, TO compete with squad OF
picked cavalrymen in the United States army
] a
| Mortified, VI, to New York City. a distance
Of nearly three hundred and fifty miles. This
will be a real demonstration Of the efficiency
of the cavalry combating the worst winter
weather of New England. This race should
create a great deal of interest and the com
petition will be keen, always, when the
Norwich University cadets meet the soldier
boys. Thus Norwich is daily giving priceless
service 20 our country
Some day when national disaster seems i'm.
minent our beloved country will look again
as In the days of 1881 10 Norwich and like
Institutions for guidance. The amount OF
help Norwich will then give depends entirely
on the manner in which we now show our ap.
probation Of this wonderful university.
REV WILLIAM SEWARD WALLACE.
mot All alumnus)
: Astoria, Long Island, Jan. 80, 1911