Evening star., 1947-12-29
Study Of Geography
Vital 10 u. ). Defense,
Officers Tell Session
By John V. Horner
Stur Sfoff Correspondent

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Dec.
29-Ranking military personnel re-
ported today that there is increas-
ing appreciation within the Army
and Navy of geography's Importance
to all phases of national defense and
to the prosecution of any future
wars.
In talks prepared for delivery at
annual meetings of three national
graphical societies at the University
of Virginia, the military authorities
said the United States is obtaining
fullest possible information on the
geography of all world areas.
The talks were heard by approx
mately 400 members Of the Associa-
ton of American Biographies, the
National Council Of Geography
Teachers and the American Society
for Professional Geographers.
West Point Courses Revised.
One of the speakers, Col. Herman
Beukema, told a symposium that
the Army's better understanding of
geographical problems is reflected
in revised courses at the United
States Military Academy. Col Beu-
kema is professor of social sciences
at West Point.
Beginning the third day of their
conventions, the geosraphers also
heard from Col. Charles H. Mason,
chief of the topographic branch,
United States Army Intelligence;
Col. Sidman P. Poole, his predeces-
sor, who is now head of the Univer-
sity of Virginia School of Geog-
raphy; Capt. H. B. Hutchinson of
the Office of Naval Research, and
1t. Col. T. L. Ridge, U. S. M. C.
Col. Beukema quoted one of the
Army's foremost combat generals as
saying this country can never be
even reasonably secure unless and
until the armed forces develop corps
of lifetime specialists in the fields
of advanced technology. military in
telligence and international rela-
tions.
Have Little Preparation.
Until international relations has
been accorded the educational rank
long since achieved by the older
social sciences" said COL Beukema,
undergraduate students will con-
tinue to be admitted to course for
which they have little or no prepa-
ration. The intellectual dividends
which such students draw from their
exposure to world problems are in
due proportion to their limited COM
prehenSion."
Col. Beukema explained the course
offered at West Point, which now
emphasizes geography. He said it
is helping the cadets to recognize the
Importance of photography, fertil-
ity of soil, climate, rainfall and
other factors. The same pattern is
followed in the study of politics and
economics, he said.
Observing that West Point will
supply only small percentage of
the annual increment of regular
Army officers under existing legisla-
ton, Col. Beukensa expressed hope
that students in the Reserve Officers
Training Corps would receive fair
equivalent of the training given
cadets.
"U. S. Looks to Universities"
The Nation looks to the universe
ties for the leaders of tomorrow,
said Col. Beukema. ut would be
unfortunate, it might even be dis
astrous, If at some future critical
hour, one of those leaders had to
learn, as did Winston Churchill, that
all land is not fiat. If ever sound
training in geography was needed
as an indispensable feature of. a
college education, that time is to-
day-and from now on"
Capt. Hutchinson told the geog-
raphers that the Arctic Ocean bears
the same relation to the world of
today that the Mediterranean Sea
bore to the Ancients.
Intervening regions between
American and Asiatic heart lands
ore ,,nexplored wastes of polar isola-