Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-08
WAR VETERANS
TAKE COURSESIN
FRENCHSCHOOLS
Eagerly Grasp Educational
Opportunities Army Offers,
Lawrence Jones ReneWS an
Old Acquaintance
BY Ward Greene
(The Journals staff Correspondent

|
PARIS. =, It's a small world.
| Nigh be added that it was a queer
war in many respects, bringing as it
| did SO many unlocked for happen
ings to so many individuals.
Two years ago or Whereabouts,
Lawrence Jones city editor told him
to dash up to the Hotel Ansley
and interview Captain Merlantt. Of
| rived in Atlanta to lecture under
the auspices of the Alliance Anglo
| Franchise.
Lawrence dashed. Being a gradu-
ate of the University of Virginia, a
| fluent linguist and especially expert
| in French. he found the assignment
| doubly interesting, for in addition to
wearing the Legion of Honor and
| innumerable other war decorations,
| Captain Merlant turned out to be a
| professor in Montpelier university,
| one of the most famous in France.
Rabelais once taught there, the scar
| let cloak he wore is still in the uni
| versity archives.
And so, at the conclusion of the
| interview, IS Lawrence shook hands
with the captain before dashing back
| to the office, he said jokingly,
| Some day | may come to France
and study under you at Montpelier,
SIR"
Good" said the captain, smiling.
81 hope you will"
Lawrence did. He is studying
there today. Captain Merlant is one
| if his professors. But it was a war
| that brought him to Montpelier. and
he is studying not as Lawrence
Jones, but as Lieutenant Jones.
U. S: A.
The appointment of Lieutenant
Jones, of Atlanta, to Montpelier, is
but one of the many that are being
made in the American expeditionary
force today as part of the broad ed
vocational scheme originated and car
ried out by general headquarters, in
cooperation with French and British
universities.
The whole A. E. F., or at least the
part which so desires, is going to
school. Some of them are studying
some literature, some art, not few
reading, writing and arithmetic.
They are studying under their own
professors, drawn back from the
drill field and the trenches to the
classroom of yore; and they are
renowned masters of Europe.
Plans for after-the-war education
Of the army were made as long ago
as last fall. The sudden signing
Of the armistice found them imma-
ture, but in the last few months they
have been brought to completion and
the present week sees them inaugu-
rated in full swing.
Broadly speaking, the army edu-
cational plan is divided into three
parts. First, there are the vocational
schools that have been established
at every camp and post where as
many as five hundred or more men
are assembled. These are open to
everybody in the A. E. F., regard
less of rank and regardless of
qualifications. Everything is taught
from agriculture and farming meth
DDS to sculpture and art. Agricul-
ture is one Of the chief courses.
Second. there are the classes at
French and British universities and
other schools open to advanced stu
dents and graduates of American uni
Tersities. French universities will,
handle some $500 students, and Brit
ish universities about 1000. APP
commanding officers of various out
fits. A certain number of scholar
ships are distributed in even pro-
portion to each division and depart
rhent in the A, E. F., and applicants
are chosen on their respective quail
ifications. There is also the regular
A. q. F. University at Beaune, south
of DIXON, where between 10, 900 and
$1,000 students will take courses
corresponding to freshman and soph-
omore work of American colleges.
Third, there will be correspond
ence courses inaugurated for stu
dents at isolated points who have
neither the advantage of the post
schools nor of university appoint
ments.
The army has taken to the plan
like duck to water. Some 100000
men are enrolled to date in the post
schools, while the $4,000 capacity of
American soldier students at French
and British universities is being
sorely taxed.
This week saw the opening of the
A. e. F. university at Beaune with
student body of between 10000
and $4,000. Students are arriving
by the hundreds in Paris to attend
Sorbonne university. All of the. men,
of course, are still in khaki and will
continue in the army until their
courses are completed and they are
returned home and demobilized. They
are subject to all army rules and
regulations, and at Beaune they
stand reveille and go through GER
tain amount of drill as usual.