Evening star., 1947-06-15

ueAlDie, anu Specldl euOIt maQe 10
keep the work as much as possible
on practical, timely problems ac-
tually confronting the Nations
leaders.
For example: President Truman
promulgated the so-called Truman
doctrine" in a message to Congress
asking approval of the special pro-
gram for economic and military
assistance to Greece and Turkey, at
pm. on March IL. Before night
fall that day all NWC students
were assigned to study the impli-
cations of this most momentuous
application of integrated politico-
military policy yet undertaken by
the United States.
The college problem" posed spe-
ciflc questions about effects of either
rejection or approval of the Creek
Turkish aid program on United
States grand strategy, its foreign
policy and security policy generally.
Student Committees
Sixteen committees Of six students
each were assigned to thresh out
in discussion groups independent
solutions. The problem was dis
cussed bluntly in terms of the clash
of interest involved between Russia
and the United States. Varying
solutions were summarized in oral
presentations before the entire stu
dent body and faculty. Then Mr..
Kennan presented a faculty critique,
agreeing with some of the student
committee answers and disagreeing
with others.
His conclusions were circulated
widely among Government officials
concerned with the problem on the
operating level. They were gener-
ally similar to views brought out by
supporters of the program in con-
gressional hearings and debate.
The NWC handling of the Greek
Turkish problem" was typical Of
much Of its work. Aside from COM
mitteee study of specific problems,
there are numerous lectures by out
standing visiting authorities, and
every student has to prepare an
individual seminar thesis, requiring
much research.
There are no examinations, no
grades. not even any school solu-
tions" to assigned problems.
Most of those connected with the
institution as administrators, teach
ers or students believe 1t may prove
most valuable for something ether
than what may be learned solely
from the study of books or the ex-
pounding of themes. They eJnpha-
size the by-product benefits that
come from the personal associations
of the key officers from diverse back
grounds assigned to the NWC.
Close Association
Ground Force, Air Force, Navy.
Marine and Foreign Service officers
in the student body have been thor
oughly and deliberately mixed up
in every phase of the schools &C
tivity. Office or study rooms in the
NWC building each provide desk
space for six to eight students. As
signments to those rooms have been
shifted at least every three weeks
to bring the maximum number Of
students into close association.
In line with a basic NWC aim to
stir it's students to thinking along
broad lines and approach problems
from national, rather than their
special service, viewpoint. emphasis
has been put on civilian instruction.
During the first semester, almost
the entire instruction was by civilian
authorities. Actually, IS out of 90
lectures were given by civilians.
Even in the second semester. with its
shift of emphasis to problems con-
sidered more in the military field.
about so per cent of the lecturers
we're civilians-all top flight author
tiles in specific fields.
An admittedly heavy" science
course was included in the second
semester, out of the conviction that
If there is going to be "push-button"
warfare Americas future leaders
must be the first to know most about
it.
Next Falls Plans
Civilian members of the resident
faculty for the first semester in
cluded Prof. Hardy G. billiard, Uni
versity of Virginia; Bernard Brodie
and Sherman Kent, Yale University,
and Walter L. Wright, jr., Prince
ton, N. Jail weil-known names in
the educational world.
Lined up for similar positions
next fall are Thomas A. Bailey, pro-
fessor of history at Stanford Uni
versity: Prof. j. E. Wallace Sterling.
of the California Institute of Tech
nology; Prof. Arncld Wolfers of the
Yale Institute of International
Studies; Rudolph A. Winnacker, ed
itor- -in-chief of the War Depart
ment's historical division, and John
A. Morrison, who has been serving
in the State Departments intelli-
gence division.
The NWC students all are senior
officers Of the career services who
have been carefully selected from
among those qualified for high COM
mand or diplomatic posts. Army
and Marine officers in the classes
rank as colonels or above, Navy Of
flcers are captains, and the Foreign
Service officers are from the top
classificatfons The age limit Is As.
The National War College now Is
the apex Of the training systems Of
the various services. The Army and
Navy still maintain separately their
staff and command schools for
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