Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-09-21

The man-power bill has been passed
by Congress fixing the age limits from
Is to a., both inclusive. The new mil
itary program, as outlined by the sec
retary of war, calls for the increase of
the army by more than two millions of
men by July1, 1919. This will probably
necessitate The mobilization of all ply
sically fit registrants under 2l within
ten months OF this date. With respect
to students, since they are not to be
made in any sense a deferred or favor
ed class, this means they will practical
Il ly all be assigned to active service in
th- field by June. 1919. The question
therefore is, How shall boys now in col
lcge Or graduated from high school pro
ceed?
The following answers to questions
are based on the latest information
from the war department in reference
to the Students Army Training Corps
and are intended to make clear the
best plan for college students and high
school graduates to follow:
| 1.--What is the Students Army
Training Corpse
! 1t is a branch Of the Army of the
/ United States into which college stud.
cnts and high school students having
at least thirteen units may be yolun-
tarily inducted, and to which soldiers
having adequate educational prepara-
tion may be detailed by the military au-
I thorties
2-Is il official or unofficial?
1t is officially being raised and main
tanned by direction of the President un.
der authority conferred by Act Of Con.
grc5s approved May IS, 1917, commonly
known as the Selectiye Service Act
3-What standing has it with the wal
department?
Ii is regularly organized corps Of the
Army, and is administered by the Com.
mittec on Education and Special Train,
ling Of the War Department, which acts
r under the jurisdiction of the Adjutant
General.
What is the object of the S. A
IT, ca
The Army needs 10000 Officers. Nc
promise is made by the Government
that the successful prosecution of col
lcge course under military instruction
will guarantee the attainment of a com
mission in the U, S. Army, but it is
clearly sugges stcd that this ia the most
direct way toward such commission
Nearyy ninety per cent Of the present
officers in the National Army are sait
to be college trained men.
The student soldier will be given mil
itary instruction under officers Of the
Army and will be kept under obscrva
ton and test to determine their quail
fications as officer-candidates anC
technical experts such as chemists. doc
tors, ect. After certain period the
men will be selected according to theii
performance and assigned to military
'duty in one Of the following ways;
Ale may be transferred to u cen
trail officers training camp
b-He may be transferred to a non
commissioned officers training school
c-He may be assigned to the schOo
where he is enrolled for further in
tensve work in a specified line for
limited specified time.
die may be assigned to the voca
tional training section of the Corps fo
technical training of military value.
e-He may be transferred to a can
tonment for duty with troops as pri
vate.
5-How is tire S. A. T. c. organized1
The Students Army Training Corp
. consists of two groups, Section A whiel
; consists of men who have at least i
! units of high school credit who receiv
: training primarily intended to prepar
them for officers commissions, and Sec
: tion B which consists of gramma
: school graduates who will receive vOca
< tional and technical training as carper
. ters, blacksmiths, automobile mechanic
. cement workers, etc.