Show OUR MILITARY DEPARTMENT The teaching of military science in the schools of the United States is a subject which has received considerable attention of late Although this is an age of progress and civilization civil civil- there ere is still a possibility though perhaps perhaps per per- perhaps haps not a probability of an occasion arising at any time when it might be necessary to wield the sword to cut the Gordian Knot entangling entangling entangling en en- tangling the affairs of the nations The United United United Unit Unit- ed States maintains only a very small standing army but she has millions millions millions' of patriotic young men who are ever e er ready to gather around the flag of their country and fight for its pre- pre The wars of have shown the value of intelligent and well disciplined troops and the great advantage of being able to move them about a battle field and without confusion It is for the purpose of partially preparing the young men for such emergency that they are being ta taught something of the methods of war But in connection with the military drill system of the University here we are afraid 1 it t J f it falls short of the desired end in that it lack u ua a stimulus for excellence e Our OUT present regulations regulations regulations reg reg- require all male students with th the exception of f Juniors and Seniors and those thou physically inc incapacitated to enter ranks To the bulk of the students this means from three three- to 10 four years of drill Those who are so for fortunate fortunate for as to receive commissions or those those- few loC who are enthusiasts of the system may acquire acquire- a fair idea of military matters matter's but the great majority who lack Jack interest in the drill an anti r-j r 1 regard it as an unavoidable drudgery do do- do not noK care to know any more about it than they are are- compelled to Why would it not be advisable advisable- to provide that those students who have takena- takena drill for a certain length of time say one year ear will be exempt from further service provided provide they can pass an examination on such portions portion of tactics and acid on such duties of the soldier and andl officer as are ordinarily taught here in the the- military department We Ve do not doubt but that this would arouse the young men to study study- and master these matters much more thoroughly thorough thorough- ly than they will ever d do J under under- the the- pr presen present sen conditions |