Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-09
University Of Pittsburgh Is Training
$50 Men as Gas Engine
Mechanics.
PLAN IS VERY SUCCESSFUL
structors and Scholars
Learn Quickly.
GRADUATES DO GOVT. WORK
Possible to Maintain Intimate Con.
nection Bctween Military and
Mechanical Conditions.

Special education OF drafted men
by university and colleges is work.
Ing successfully. The committee on
education and special training OF the
war department in q report shows
that the University OF Pittsburgh 10
training $50 men for service as gas
engine and automobile mechanics
In the army, When this plan was
announced In March the University
OF Pittsburgh discussed provisions OF
training and housing the 100 men.
Less than month later 326 men
were taking instruction. Today there
are $50 men. II is anticipated that
there VIII be 1000 by August /. and
the university Is preparing TO enlarge
according to the Motor World.
The work at this particular uni
versity was confined to the training
OF gas engine and automobile men.
first, because there were q number
OF members Of hGfaculty Who vera,
specialists In gas engines; second,
because there were In the city many
automobile repair shops from which
practical men could be taken to give
instruction. and. third, because the
city Offered an opportunity for OBJ
tanning without transportation q
large variety OF worn and broken
automobiles, an essential In con-
dncting the practical course, which
was planned. Both the equipments
OF the university and It's location
made possible an effective co-ordi-
nation OF instruction, material and
housing necessary for the work.
The problem Of instruction has
ham m a hu tx0
tho best automobile repair1ner,slu
the city. who under the derships
and coaching OF faculty members
have proved successful teanhers.
They were men without academic
experience, but with experience Ia
tho Kind OF concrete practical teach.
Ing demanded. 1t In continually linz
pressed upon the instructors that the
work they are doing ID very impor.
tant, that II only one-fourth OF the
men they train provo TO bQ POOR me-
chanics II In Just as serious or prob
ably more serious than II only one
fourth OF the shells mads In = mu.
niuons plant should fail to explode.
Il Do ePractical Work. ,
i The material for use IN the course
comes from three sonrcAs: NEW
trucks and engines from the ebv6ft-
riicnt, old and ,dilapidated cars whlch
have been purchased outright BY the
university. and cars and trucks il
need OF repairs which are obtained
from firms and individual OWNERS.
owners OF cars pay for new material.
Dul no charge Ia made for labor.
The owner 10 allowed 10 choose
whether he will have his car put In
first class" fair" or "running'., !,
condition with corresponding range
IN the expense for new material. The
university has provided shop equip-
mont and individual tool kits for
each studenter
The uni,ersLfy first met the hous-
ine problem k6y making use Of the
gymnaslumss end other buildings
which could he temporarily adapted
Tor sleeping purposes and for the
teeding OF men. barracks are now
| being built which by August I viii
accommodate 1000 men. Shops have
been built for $50 men. These are
being extended A mess half seating
l.20o will be completed by June is.
The whole character OF the in
struction is practical No more theory
is given than is absolutely neces-
cary. =
1t has been found possible to main
tain the most intimate connection
tween the military and mechanical
aspects of the work According to
their officers, the men learn the
routine Of drill nearly as fast az
they would II they gave their whole
time to 1t. Their excellent morale
and fine spirit show alike In the
energy with which they attack the
problem of diagnosing the COM
plants OF a broken down automo-
bile and In the zest with which they
go through the maneuvers Of their
military drill. The men are not
allowed to feel that there Is any dis
tinction between their mechanical
work and their military instruction.
They are responsible to their cap
tain for doing their duty in both.