New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-03-02
THE RADIO SCHOOL.

Editor Enterprise, New Iberia. La.
Dear Sir-The class in Radio
or Buzzer telegraphy for drafted
men conducted at Southwestern
Louisiana Industrial Institute in
response to the War Department s
request for $1,000 trained opera
tors, has completed its fourth
week Of instruction and practice.
There are now "a men in the class
and seven Of them can read the
International code at the pre-
scribed rate Of twenty words per
minute, though they cannot yet
write down this number with ac-
curacy-which will take them at
least another month Of practice.
Inquiries are being received from
distant points and a number Of adj
ditional drafted men are ex-
pected to enter for this course by
the first of March-at which time
an additional class group will DE
formed and an additional instruc-
tor employed This instruction is
given to the drafted men entirely
free, as war work. The instruc-
tors are paid for their services at
the rate of 81 an hour, half by the
Government, through the Federal
Board for Vocational Education
and the other half by local public
bodies.
A like response has been made
by Southwestern Institute to the
War Departments call for the
training Of drafted men in cabi-
net making and carpenter work,
for service in building airplanes.
Prof. Ashby Woodson, of the Me-
chanical Department. started a
class on February II, giving in
struction from four to six p. NJ.
each day, and providing oppor-
tunity for the drafted men TO
work in the shop all day if con-
venient. Eight men have entered
for this work and two of them,
who were already experienced in
woodwork, were given a certificate
of proficiency after As hours Of
instruction and practice in the In
stitute Shop. These men were
Clifford J .Pellerin Of st. Martin
lille, La. and Robert Doxey. of
Grand Chenier, La. This class is
also increasing in number. In
struction is free. The instructor
is paid in the same manner as in
the ease Of the Blzzer telegraphy
by the Government and local
public bodies.
Southwes tern Institute went
100 per cel.t over the top" to-
day at the conclusion of the drive
for membership in the Junior Red
Cross, winning a place on the
honor roll of the State. by having
every student IN school and every
member of the Faculty join. But
in addition to this it created a
new record by getting the same
100 per cent Of membership in the
French Red Cross-exactly doub-
ling the effort required for the
American Red Cross alone. This
was one without solicitation by
any representative Of the French
Red Cross. and was a voluntary
testimonial by the Institute Of the
interest evoked here by the recent
visit of Mademoiselle deLambert,
whose eloquent and touching adj
dresses in Lafayette were re-
warded with the contribution of
1000 francs from citizens of the
sown and parish Of Lafayette sent
to Marechal Joffre through Am
bassador Jusserand. The fund de-
rived from the 25c membership
fees Of students joining the
French Red Cross will be expend-
cd in the purchase of materials
for the making Of garments to be
sent to France-in the same man.
ner as in the case of the American
Red Cross.
Very truly yours,
E. L. STEPHENS, Pres.
Wv. s. S.