Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-02
GIVES HIGH PRAISE
TO AMERICAN LADS
Vice-Chancellor at Historic Cam
bridge Tells of Their Stay
at University.
SENT FROM U. S. FORCES
Two Thousand Soldier-Students
Divided Among Various
British Schools.
ny FORBES w. rAIRn.IpS

LONDON, Nov I.-American student,
az cambridge University have left be-
~ one or the rleasantest memories
IN the shistory OF the institution, ar
cording to DR.. Peter Giles, retiring
vice chancellor
The stay of the American officers
peditionary forces forms one OF the
most useful and gratifying stories in
ne career career Of the university" he said.
ganization OF the reception and studies
a, Cambridge, and was in intimate
touch with the goo men who attended
the university classes during the past
year. The students were sent TO Eng
land from the American forces in
France and divided among the British
schools.
pounded 20 the British universities by
the American military authorities It
was not perhaps clearly realized how
The ordinary schna number OF resden,s
Giles. Consequently, when the Ameri-
can authorities were asked how many
students IT was proposed to send over.
they told us about 10000
This would have meant somewhere
about double the normal number Of
students in British universities In
Of the students reside within the walls
OF the ancient colleges. the difficulty
was greater than elsewhere.
5000 Applied for Admission.
IN the end some 5000 men applied
for admission. and on drastic revision
these were brought down to 1000 OF
this number about zoo were assigned
to Cambridge"
Americans who have visited the his
toric seat Of learning at Cambridge
Of English towns. Situated In tho
heart OF Cambridgeshire, 1t has been
an educational center for hundreds of
years. Members OF practically every
c, vi i'm
have attended classes there. and 1t
ranks with oxford as one OF the most
important universities in the world.
Its ancient college buildings. unchanged
since their erection, link tho past with
the present. present day students liv-
ing in The identical chambers used in
forgotten generations by other college
men.
The American students invaded the
quaint old town last spring and &C.
cupied the chambers Of the regular
men who were on vacation. Thus the
absorption took place without incon-
venience to any one.
Tongues Stick on Names.
The first detachment arrived at }
o'clock in the morning and were sepa-
they belonged. The pronunciation OF
caused a little difficulty. the Americans
not readily recosniz!ns M EdaieHe 1 as
everything went smoothly after the
hrst few days.
A short course was proyided for
of the university professors and lee
turers gave up part Of their vaea-
tons in order to proyide the necessary
thor!tics, who had 400 officers study
ing in Cambridge. also generously
opened their lectures. which continued
long after the university lectures were
closed to the American students.
Entertainment Provided.
Meantime the ladies OF the univer-
sity had made arrangement for enter
mittee explained the many objects OF
historical and antiquarian interest,
while others arranged for social par
ed indefatigably. and soon the fank-
ecs were as much at home as II they
had been back in their own home
Lsstures began mmediately and
continued for twenty-three days. after
E y itn holidays fefi When the Americans
work of the May term; when they had
ancc Of the Undergraduates. They
with the naval officers with whom they
friends friends among the undergraduates
They took part in the university life;
and Of them be aes to Sufn Ssa
College boats in the races, among them
Lathrop. who rowed in ST. James
first boat and Chichester and Driver
who both rowed in the first Christ
College boat.
Certificates for Work.
The American students. following
their home system. combined subjects
which to the ordinary English student
seemed incompatible. For example,
in successive hours such diverse SUBJ
iccts as chemistry and classics. In
the circumstances the Americans could
not take university examination as
judged in Cambridge, but were given
certificates for the work completed
signed by the lecturers and counter
signed by the university registry and
the vice chancellor.