The sun., 1919-09-21
University In Khaki
Shows Rapid Growth

A ITHOUGH the vocational school
~ as adopted and established by
the War Department as q
means Of making soldering more at
tractive to the youth Of the land is still
in its infancy, enough has been DEM
onstrated of what it may accomplish
to prove its exceptional value. Az q
general statement the object of these
schools is twofold-to overcome d.
ficiencies Of primary education and b
fit men for specialized pursuits.
These schools have so far been
opened in the permanent posts of the
army, and also at divisional camps
located at Camps Zachary Taylor.
Louisville, KY; Travis, San Antonio,
Texas; Pike, Little Rock, Ark; Dodge.
Des Moines, Ia; Gordon, Atlanta, Ga;
Grant, Rockford. Ill.,; Funston. Fort
Riley, Kan. The Motor Transport
Corps on September 2 opened a mo-
tor mechanics school at Camp Meade.
Maryland. and other schools of various
fields of instruction were opened at
the same date in several military posts.
~ mas hOt OCCh ullilCull " III
these schools with enlisted scholars,
for the idea of vocational training aD-
peals strongly to young men, and the
chance to become a specialist in q
paying trade Is one they have shown
eagerness to enjoy. Indeed, 1T is be-
lieVed that the excellent results Of
recruiting a peace time army was due
to this feature. The young men real
ize that vocational training, added to
the discipline to be acquired In ths
army. makes them more capable money
earners in subsequent civil life.
'-The University in Khaki" is ths
name given to the vocational schools
by Secretary of War Baker, who an
nounces that each one of the divisional
camps will be its branches. He adds:
I'm this work l want to ask TN
| cooperation of the communities where
| the Regular Army units are sta
toned. We need their cooperation
1t is not too much to ask these cities
and towns where the the regulars are
domiciled 10 regard the regimenta
camp and its soldier inhabitants a.
New Haven regards Yale and -
! other college towns recognize stu
| dents. Conditions ought to be man
! aged so thak the soldiers will bs
pleased that their training is being
received In kindly surroundings"
Gem. Peyton c. March, Chief OF
| Stan. remarked when the hundred
thousand mark had been passed, "of
this number 6S, 900 are re-enlistments
and of these nearly $4,000 saw servios
| in France,
1 Tn, nf a XUhathOF
| in garrison, at divisional camps or on
detached service, opportunity now is
presented for the learning of some
useful trade or occupation. In some
of the branches training is offered in
rs many as twenty-three lines. That
| is true of the aviation service and
| the motor transport service also
| teaches a multiplicity of trades In
mechanics, while the coast artillery
| corps offers an even wider scope for
| study The engineer corps, which
will probably assume the chemical
warfare service and other new
branches, offers training In these lines
as we'll as its usual work In road and
bridge construction. defence systems.
water supply railway construction
and operation and kindred branches.
| The elementary courses as laid out
| in the army schools will require
| twenty-four weeks and the specialized
courses forty-eight weeks. These viii
| in no way interfere with military
| training, the mornings being devoted
| to strictly military duty. From / TO
4:90 on five days of the week the vo-
cational student win be In the class
room, laboratory or shop. As many Of
the recruits arrive deficient in ordi-
nary education they are separated
into classes and the men who have not
attained the sixth grade in school are
asked first TO enter the elementary
classes in reading, writing, arithmetic
and spelling, This is taught in a
course OF twenty-fOur weeks and the
specialized classes require forty-eight
weeks more.