The sun., 1918-08-25
What Amherst College Is
.. Accomplishing During the War

all work done In the department OF
military science and tactics, and one
fifth OF q students time may be de-
voted to military work.
Membership in the r. o. T. c. does
not exempt a man from draft. But In
an order from Washington a while ago
II Is set forth that whenever q student
is drafted the professor of military
science and tactics shall forward his
record to the Adjutant-GSleral of the
army with a recommendation II 1t is
deserved that the student be admitted
TO an officers training camp. This
means that the college man has two
chances, amounting to almost an as
surancs that he will be given a COM
mission. II he is graduated before being
called to the colors he automatically
becomes either provisional Second
Lieutenant, perhaps temporarily on the
inactive list, or il not actually com
missioned he is placed on list as
eligible for a commission when more
officers are needed.
Amherst has been selected for the
establishment OF a machine gun unit
recognised by the Government on the
same basis as the r. o. T. C. The Or
ganfzation of a group of advanced stu
dents desiring instruction in this branch
of the service. important both IN trench
warfare and in aviation. has been
started this year by Major John X.
Ebert, r. o. r. C.. Of the class OF 1918,
who has completed the Government
course In machine guns at the Spring
field armory. Examples Of the Colt
automatic and of the Browning heavy
machine gun. one of the former present.
ed to the college by the class OF 1884.
are now available for the training Of the
unit.
These items will suggest something Of
the Amherst spirit In its response to the
call of the country. Education is an i'm
portant factor in the production of SOL
diers, and much more in the training OF
the soldiers leaders. In promoting the
best type Of education in the best way
possible for It, Amherst believes that II
Is rendering a real and essential service
to the country I'm time Of need.
Studies In Wartime.
The outbreak OF the war brought TO
college students the difficult alternative
OF enlistfng at once or Of staying 10 corn
plete their college education before en-
tering national service. At that time
President Lowell of Harvard issued a
statement of the relation OF liberal
studies to the crisis. In effect, his attI-
tude is that of all the colleges:
This country will need educated mon
no less during and after this war than
is has needed them before In education,
not specifically directed to military use.
is mere luxury. enabling men to find
a source OF relaxation and enjoyment.
but not essential TO the welfare of the
community as a whole. then the college
had better close its doors permanently.
But II, on the other hand, education
Is essential to modern civilization and
to the United States, then the college
certainly cannot cease to impart II.
France. which. on the side of the
Allies, has borne by far the heaviest
part in the war. has insisted that her
koung men should pursue their ordinary
courses Of study until they come to the
age for beginning military instruction.
We cannot do better thon follow that
example.
Until the age or the opportunity Of
rendering real military or other service
arrives the duty Of the boy or young man
Is TO train himself to clear thought, to
steady application and to persistent pur-
pose. The college course Is designed to
furnish these things. and the only dif-
ference in the feeling that a young man
should have about college In these days
Is a stronger determination to mako the
most OF the opportunities II affords, to
take his studies at school or college
more seriously and more with the OBJ
ject as citizen OF making them ulti-
| mately profitable to the nation"
Now that the country 10 facing war on