The sun., 1919-09-21

MI have been puzzling their
1 = brains throughout the past
summer to find some way to make
their young sons, the graz 1mar school
graduates of last June. helpful and
happy citizens of their country. To
do this, first necessity Is the choice
Of trade or profession.
To help the boys to get started In
the right way, these anxious fathers
and mothers have read the catalogues
Of innumerable vocational schools,
since these are the latest expression
OF practical education. and with their
protracted investigation of the claims
Of these schools their condition of
doubt about what is the best thing to
do too often increases. The claims
are so often contradictory and the
methods proposed for quick and
thorough results vary so radically
that choice is difficult.
What would be their relief to learn
Of a school where very practical
knowledge is promised along lines
that modern needs have raised to the
first importance2 And IL this school
is being carried on under the dis
cipline of the United States Army
with experienced instructors and
superabundance of laboratory and
other equipment furnished by the
War Department, would not the
parents problem seem to be in q fair
way Of solution?
The Pupils Must Enlist.
That a requisite for membership In
such a school is enlistment in the
army Is rather in its favor. every
thing being equal. and very much 30
when the ideas of the boys themselves
are taken into the account The
young grammar school graduates are
under the glamour of their elder
bFuthers recent adventurous career
In the war and the thought of them
selves donning khaki is fascinating.
At Camp Vail, near Little Silver. In
New Jersey, vocational army
school is already established; 1t will
begin educational proceedings in
earnest October / with a membership
Of $50. Before the first term is well
along pupils from every signal corps
in the country will swell the number
to 1850. This Is, at least, the ex-
pectation of those Immediately con-
eerned in the success Of the school
and 1t is justified by figures submitted
by the various signal stations.
Camp Vail under Col Helm as post
eommandant was established as soon
as the United States declared war, II
was at once fitted out as a radio
station of the first class and equipped
with complete and elaborate laboratory
features. 1t occupied many aSres
near the Shrewsbury River and. earli-
est of the great camps, showed an
abundance of life and usefulness. AS
an aviation centre 1t soon became no.
table and the vast hangers and other
buildings erected for air drill and
experimentation are now turned over
for the purposes of school and lec-
tnre rooms. library, laboratories. &C.
The young enlisted students will oc-
cupy the dormitories in the camp
proper which have stood for the most
part empty and disused since the
signing of the armistice in November
1918.
It's Buildings Ready to Hand.
Thus the school comes at once into
possession of these buildings which
for two years teemed with young
and iusty life. but which had begun
to suffer under disuse. BY means OF
very few and inexpensive changes the
once war-like camp has heen changed
Into a peaceful vocational school. In
these changes the interest Of the
post commandant has been generous
and lively. Col. Helm, in that position,
and Col. Robert Davis, at the head
OF the school, are working for the
success Of the school. ,.--
Col. Davis has been In the field ar
tlllery for 20 years. He went tc
France as Major of the Fifth Artil-
ery, First Division and was promnted
10 Colonelcy. He served with the
ss.h Division in the battles OF st
Mlhiel and the Argonne and for q
orief period was in the bureau OF
secret service. Returning he obtained
National Army regiment. His heart
now is set on making this School foi
ENLISTED Specialists" an acknowl-
edged efficient branch of the army
In this he is supported by the moderr
progressives in the War Department
The men are enlisted for the schoo
proper and except for a little iril
they have no army, work. No house
cieaning, no dish washing, no kitcher
service the enlisted youths are sol
alers indeed, but student soldiers. ant
Tue aim of their teachers will be Il
eurh them out as quickly AS goot
grounding will admit with a trade
valuable to themselves I'm making Z
hNns, valuable to the army and thsil
country as efficient specialists In tn,
most advanced field OF technica
knowledge.
Parents Are Invited.
said Colonel Davis; "sWe welcom,
INQUIRIES from parents or from TN
poys themselves. We win answe
svery such inquiry at once and fully
/ Tutk -.