The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-02
COLLEGES TEACH
STUDENTS TO Be
AR NJ Y OFFICERS
Educational Institutions Ac-
complish Much In Prepar-
ing Men For U. 5.

ical of what New England colleges
have accomplished during the past
college wear, Amherst College, al
though not a military institution mas
prepared a battalion of embryo army
officers for the service OF their coun-
trv These young men. for the most
part below the draft age, have Deen
trained as part OF their coiiese
course in the Amherst Reserve Onic-
ers Training Corps. Some of age Will
get commissions, many have gone to
seek additional training at Plattsburg
and the New England College Tram
ing Corps. at WilliamstOwn, Mass,
others will return to complete their
college course, continue their military
training here and await the call.
Virtually every student in college
has been in khaki the entire year, the
grass on the old Amherst common has
been worn down with the tread OF
their marching feet, and the tradition
al SLOUGH of the college student mas
been replaced by the erect, smart
bearing that typifies the American
army officer.
This little Yankee College on the
hill" has been transformed by the war.
Not that scholarship is suffering there
the faculty says the devotion OF the
college to it's former standards and
ideals Is too deep rooted for that
but with her Yankee traditions Am
herst could not fail to throw herself
whole heartedly into the country's
service.
More than a third of the 500 stud
ents have gone to the colors long ago.
ten members of the faculty have en-
tered civilian war work, other mem
bers have been serving In special
ways, and military training and pre-
marathon for war service has become
part of the curriculum. Only forty
seniors were left to graduate. They
and the undergraduates who remained
to complete their education now seem
rather soldiers than students.
The war spirit has prevailed and
faculty members say that in Amherst
this spirit has greatly changed the
somewhat happy-go-lucky undergrad
mates of yore. He has become imbued
with more real seriousness of purpose
and the change is reflected in improv
ed scholastic standing.
With eager enthusiasm the three
hundred odd students composing INT
Officers Reserve Training Corps have
drilled daily under Colonel Richard II
Wilson, u. S. A., retired, and Major
Frank C. Damon, Mass. Volunteer NIL
itia, and have been commended as
high class officer material.
Yale has her battery, and Amhers
has been selected for the establish
ment of a machine gun unit recog
nized by the government on the same
basis as the Officers Reserve Train
ing Corps. The organization OF
group of advanced students desiring
vice, important both in trench war
fare and in aviation, has been formed
this year by Major John X. Eilert, Oi
ficer Reserve Training Corps of tn
class of 1918. who has completed tn
government course in machine gun a
the Springfield Armory. A Colt auto
matte and Browning heavy machin
gun, one of the former presented +
the college by the class of 1884, ar
now available for the training OF tn
unit.
In adjusting the curriculum to wa
needs, the college has supplements
the military training with specia
courses in map drawing, radio worl
navigation. airplane. motors and ba'
teriOlogy FOR sanitary work TIL
chemistry department is doing specis
research work for the government.
To provide for students within tw
years of the draft age, special tw
year course has been established
which, with certain exceptions, all tn
usual requirements Of the regular ca
lege course are waived The student
can elect such subjects as seem mo-
useful during their stay in college ar
are given the privilege of completir
the remainder of the requirements Il
q degree at any other time.
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