DARTMOUTH'S MILITARY POLICY

At a special meeting of the Dartmouth faculty held March 17, it was "Voted, that it be recommended to the President of Dartmouth College that an application for a military instructor and equipment under the provisions of General Orders Number 48 be made to the War Department." This vote, passed unanimously, was the result of an investigation made by a special committee on military training composed of Professors E. J. Bartlett, C. D. Adams, Mr. H. M. Tibbetts, and Messrs. T. L. Cotton, S. B. Emerson 2nd, G. K. Page, and K. L. Thielscher all from the Senior class.

This special committee considered four possible courses of action, namely, independent action by the college, organization as a part of the state militia, organization as a part of the officers' reserve corps, and the course which was adopted.

Section 3 of General Orders No. 48, provides that: "The proper authorities of the institution must agree to maintain under the prescribed military training not less than 100 physically fit male students above the age of 14 years. They must further agree that any student who enters upon the prescribed course of military training shall be required to continue training for the remainder of that academic year, as a prerequisite for graduation or promotion from that year's course, unless excused therefrom for physical disability, which fact shall be established by a certificate from a reputable physician to that effect."

The course to be given is prescribed in Section 5 as follows: "The instruction given to those students taking the first year's course of military training must include the following subjects as a minimum: (a) Nomenclature and care of the rifle and equipment; (b) Infantry drill regulations; close and extended order, to include the schools of the soldier, squad, and company; (c) Instruction gallery practice."

Records concerning the accomplishments of the course are to be kept by the Department of Military Training according to the following provisions of Section 38: "There shall be in the Department of Military Training of the institution such records as will show specifically the following information: (1) Date and duration of each drill or instruction period; (2) Kind of drill or subjects of instruction covered at each drill or instruction period; (3) Name of each instructor at each drill or instruction period; (4) Number of students present at each drill or instruction period for the entire period; (5) Names of absentees and the reason for absences ; (6) When range practice is held, the score of each student should be kept ; (7) Record of all Government property issued to the institution; (8) Lists of all Government property issued to each student by the institution."

Application which the administration must make to the government for the aid of the War Department includes the following provisions in Section 4: "The proper authorities of the institution must agree to allot, and require an average of not less than three hours a week per school year to the prescribed course of military training."

The cooperation of the Athletic Council was assured by the following vote, passed by the council, "Voted: that the Dartmouth College Athletic Council offers its cooperation with the college authorities in any way in which it may be required in the movement for military preparedness and desires to facilitate and encourage the active participation in such movement by those interested in athletics."

Enrollment blanks have been compiled and read as follows:

"I, the undersigned, hereby enroll for military training for the remainder of the academic year, 1916-17, under the provisions of General Orders No. 48 of the War Department.

"I promise to obey all rules and orders relating to the organization, discipline, and government of military students, made and promulgated by the head of the Department of Military Training.

"I further agree that, having voluntarily entered upon this course of military training, continuance of the training for the remainder of this academic year shall be a prerequisite for graduation or promotion to the next class, unless I shall be excused therefrom for physical disability as prescribed by the Secretary of War."

A sufficient number of men to comply with the requirements of the War Department has already enrolled and application has been made for an officer and equipment.

The Faculty at its meeting on March 26th, passed the following votes:

Voted : - That the Dean be requested to make known to the College that the action by which credit was given for the Plattsburg training in the summer of 1916 applied only to that period, and that such credit will not be granted for the coming summer.

Voted: — That students who shall have actually enlisted and been accepted in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve shall be given at the end of the year credit for this semester's work with the grades shown by the mid-semester reports.

Further, two questionnaires have been sent out to all members of the Faculty and officers of the College. The first questionnaire, from the Intercollegiate Bureau, has likewise been sent to the Alumni and the undergraduate . body. This Intercollegiate Bureau maintains a central office in Washington closely in touch with various departments of the government. The purpose of this Bureau is to enroll, in case of war, college men of specialized abilities in work not of a strictly military nature. The Dartmouth committee consists of Mr. H. E. Keyes, Professor E. J. Bartlett, Messrs. A. L. Priddy and E. D. Towler. The second questionnaire is from the National Research Council "whose purpose is to bring into co-operation existing governmental, educational, industrial, and other research organizations with the object of encouraging the investigation of . natural phenomena, the increased use of scientific research in the development of American industries, the employment of scientific methods in strengthening the national defense, and such other applications of science as will promote the national security and welfare." The local research committee consists of Professors Patten, Goldthwait, and Hull. This committee will report: (1) On the equipment, or facilities, of the college now available for trainingmen, in an emergency, for national defense. (2) On such equipment as may be utilized in a more comprehensive plan, covering an indefinite period. (3) On the ways and means of improving! Or developing, such facilities and equipments, without conflict with, or detriment to, the fundamental purposes of the college." The six questions asked by the committee to the various department heads are as follows:

(1);. What short supplementary courses, in an emergency, could your department offer? Such courses as the following ones have been suggested: the making of topographic maps; the chemistry of explosives and of other war materials; the principles of projectiles; bridge building; camp sanitation; first aid; signal service; the speaking of foreign languages; the stimulation of the sense of obligation for national service.

(2). What three or six hour courses could your department offer as a permanent addition to the schedule, that would be suitable as a requirement for the bachelors degree, and that would be of practical value in military service?

(3). What research work, or special work of any kind, is your department doing that 'directly or indirectly contributes to the national welfare?

(4). What physical equipment does your department utilize or control, such as buildings, laboratories, apparatus, or grounds, that might be used in whole or in part, for military service?

(5). What modification in the existing academic discipline and training, such as the introduction of courses in military training, do you 'recommend with a view to increasing the service of the college to the nation?

(6). Would the members of your department willingly and conscientiously give their services to the college, so far as they are able, or fitted to do so, for the purpose of national defense?