MILITARY TRAINING IN THE COLLEGE

That the Editor has asked me to give a summary of the college interest in military training is doubtless because of my position upon a committee of the Faculty rather than from any notable war-like activity.

The College has been deeply and thoughtfully interested. All the varieties of conclusion observable in the press, the pulpit, the forum, the organized endeavor have found exponents. Speech has been free, — so free, in fact, that college officers have been held up to public reprehension for exercising freedom of opinion and vote. But the great dependable majority of the College have seen no occasion for oral or printed contention.

The College is soberly for peace; but it draws a heavy line at the price. Possibly youth may know, with clearer vision and without formal words, values to the world far beyond peace and life. Perhaps the College as a whole would agree that a great fat nation assuming to impose justice and humanity upon a wild world, to guard a hemisphere, expecting to answer a little later a proposition from lean, war-toughened peoples to come over and make safe the lives and property of foreigners in Mexico, should be able to make a respectable show of power.

Possibly the class of youth, who, as General Wood told us, are the first to come to their country's need, would like to go to their death in a valuable and responsible way.

The first strong wave for military training swept over the College in the fall. A group of students took the matter in hand, with the usual desire for immediate action. After consultation with the President of the College and the Secretary of War it became evident that the introduction of a course of military training into the curriculum was not an instantaneous process, even if it should be deemed desirable.

With the approval and aid of members of the faculty and of the board of trustees, but without official sanction or credit, a student battalion was organized soon after the Christmas recess and began drill the first of February. About one hundred and eighty have been enrolled and have drilled three times a week in two companies, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. The attendance has been good, that is for a voluntary organization somewhat incommoded by college exercises, basebail games and Prom. The time has been mainly given to setting up exercises and squad and company drill. Guns have been loaned the battalion by the State, and the Trustees of the College have authorized a bond to be filed with the War Department for army rifles which will be received at a later time than the present college year. A signal corps of about twenty, included in the number given above, has also been organized. The present indications are that the battalion will continue with as great or greater strength the next college year.

In December, after some correspondence between President Nichols and the Secretary of War a committee of the Faculty upon Military Education was appointed, and at about the same time a committee of the Trustees. The Faculty committee consisted of Messrs. C. D. Adams, Bartlett (chairman), Dixon, Laycock, Updyke, and the Trustee committee of Messrs. Gile (chairman), Parkhurst, Streeter.

The underlying question was just what could and should the College do as an organization.

The committee of the Faculty set themselves at once to ascertain the facts, —the federal statutes, the regulations of the War Department, the place in the curriculum of a course meeting the demand, the experience of institutions — land grant colleges — that had such a course, the nature of the subjects taught, and the bills with which Congress is now struggling.

A course to meet the present requirements of the War Department would have to give credit towards a degree for drill under an officer of the army; and to meet the requirements of the Faculty would have to stand in substantially equivalent relation to other academic courses. The College would be required to guarantee the continuance of a definite number of students — the present requirement is 150 — for a period of two years, in the military courses. There were other questions upon which opinions might reasonably differ.

As the committee progressed in gathering the facts it became more and more apparent that so serious a question could not be decided at once. Decision and plan might be made under existing statutes and regulations (still in effect at the time of writing) ; but organization would necessarily be effected under different conditions not now to be known — new statutes, new regulations of the War Department and a new Secretary of War. The main question was therefore waived for the time, until Congress had settled its part of the business. The committee made a report, giving the reasons, "that it was inexpedient at the present time and under the present conditions to introduce into the College a course in military training with drill, for which credit is to be given in hours towards a degree." And this report was adopted without dissenting voice by both Faculty and Trustees.

That this might not be considered a final disposition of the matter the committee was continued, with instructions to take up and consider the question again when new conditions justify such further consideration.

So the matter stands. When Congress has defined the methods and quantity of military instruction in schools and colleges the whole question will be reopened.

During the period of consideration preceding the report referred to above it seemed desirable, if the Faculty saw fit, that the committee should have authority to lay before the students with official approval the plan of the summer camps, already pretty well known, and "earnestly to urge the advantages of this training as enabling the College to make a more substantial contribution toward preparation for National defense." The Faculty approved this measure, not unanimously, but by substantial majority, and the whole committee met those students who responded to the call, and laid the matter before them in the manner authorized.

Still later, after the report had been filed and at a time when international affairs were at a crisis and when friends of the College were disappointed at indeterminate action, the Faculty decided by a close vote to recommend to the Trustees to give credit of three hours towards a degree, this year, to those students who take in a satisfactory way the course in Plattsburg or other summer camp. And friends have guaranteed that inability to meet the necessary expense — about $33 and travel — need stand in no one's way. At the time of writing sixty have filed a copy of their enrollment blank in the Dean's office. As the time for such filing does not expire until July 1. this gives no definite enumeration; it is estimated that about 100 from the College will attend camps this summer.

The chairman of a committee that has not yet taken action on the main question and whose report is subject to approval or modification by both Faculty and Trustees can hardly attempt to be a prophet. What ever is said can be no more than the personal view of the writer. But when Congress and the Secretary of War have settled the conditions of military training in the schools and colleges the wise course for the College will receive consideration. This college may,

1, Do nothing; that is take no official action, but give to the.organized students individual encouragement without credit and without' burden of responsibility.

2. Adopt the course required by the War Department, which no doubt among other matters will include the detail of an. officer from the regular army and credit towards a degree for drill.

3. Lay out a group of college electives to be considered a course in military education, to be taught and credited according to the usual standards, with

a. No credit for drill; or, b. Credit for drill in lieu of required work in the gymnasium; or, c. Additional credit for attendance at a summer camp (but not without 3).

4. Give credit for attendance at a summer camp only, as this year.

COMPANY B OF THE DARTMOUTH BATTALION

OFFICERS OF THE DARTMOUTH BATTALION