Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-08-14
COLLEGE TRAINING PLA-5
IS Now IN FULL SWING,

q
With President r. C. MeLalrin, of
the Massachusetts Institute of the
Technology serving as. educational
head of the Students Army Training
Corps, and staff OF well known CT
villains to help in. the task, the War
Departments plan to have every i'm
portant college in the country a mill
tary post for the training of men for
the Army and Navy is. making rapid
Roadway. On. July IS, three large
training camps at Plattsburg, N. Y,
San Francisco, CAL, Fort Sheridan,
H., with attendance of 1000 men,
bers of college faculties and selected
students began a sixty-day course
designed to prepare men to assist in
the work of military instruction in
the colleges this year.
Details of the plan have just been
announced by the War Department.
"The plan is an attempt TO mobilize
and develop the brain power of he
young men of the country for these
services which demand special train
ing" says the War Department.
"It's object is to prevent the pren1a-
ture enlistment for active service of
these men who could by extending
the period of their college training,
multiply manifold their value to the
country"
In it's announcement the Depart
ment points out the needs for highly
trained men as officers, engineers,
doctors, chemists, and administrators
Of every kind.
"The Importance of this need cam
not be too strongly emphasized"
says the War Departments circular.
"This is war in which soldiers are
not only marksmen, but also engi-
neers, chemists, physicists, biologists,
doctors, and specialists in many other
lines. Scientific training is indispen-
sable. Engineering skill is needed by
the officers who direct every import
ant military operation and who con-
troll our lines of transport and COM
munication. In the same way chemi-
cal and physical knowledge are in
constant demand at the front as vel
as behind he lines, while the task of
saving the lives and restoring the
health of hundreds of thousands of
wounded calls for the services o.
regiments of military physicians.
The scientific training which pre-
pares a man to fulfill one of these
highly specialized duties and the
more liberal training which helps to
develop the qualities of leadership
needed by the officer or administra-
tor are essential elements of military
efficiency.
The boy who enlists in the Stu
dents Army Training Corps will be
Il member of the Army of the United
Safes. He will be provided by the
War Department with uniform and
equipment, but will be on furlough
status and will not receive pay. He
will undergo regular military train
ing as a part of his course during
the college year, will attend six
weeks camp for rigid and intensive
military instructions with privates
pay, and will be subject to the call
of the President for active service at
any time, should the exigencies of
the military situation demand it.
The policy of the Government, how
ever, will be to keep members Of this
corps in college until their draft age
is reached, and the War Department
will have the power to order such
me. to continue in college even after
their draft age is reached whenever
their work is such that the needs of
the service, e. e., for doctors, engl-
neers, chemists, and the like, are
such as to make that course advisa-
ble."
The Students Army Training Corps
is administered by the Committee on
Educational and Special Training of
the War Department, which is a sec
ton of the Training and Instruction
Branch Of the War Plans Division of
the General Staff. Competent officers
and on-commissioned officers will
be assigned tC the various institu-
ions to carry on the work Of military
instruction.
In view of the educational sign;fi-
canoe Of the new plan, Dr. P. P.
ClaXton, Commissioner of Education,
has sent Il copy of the War Depart
ments statement to school and col
lege executives throughout the coun-