CORNELL HAS COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING COURSE

Cornell University, one of the institutions to benefit from the Federal Land Grant Act of 1862 which contributed a permanent fund to its endowment, support, and maintenance provided that the university "teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanical arts without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics," has ever since its founding included a compulsory course in military science and tactics in its curriculum.

This course, having undergone several changes of detail since its inception, is now required for students during their first two years at Cornell. The work is in charge of a captain and a lieutenant of the regular service with 12 noncommissioned assistants. These officers supervise all instruction. Commissioned officers for the corps are chosen from the upper classes and receive a salary from the university for their work. Noncommissioned officers are chosen from the ranks.

Senior Division Established.

A senior division of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps was established at Cornell early this year. This provides for the institution of an advanced course in military training which is elective, but which once selected becomes a prerequisite towards graduation. The course continues the work of the basic course taken by freshmen and sophomores, but lays special stress on practical field problems, minor tactics, map manoeuvers and the elements of military and international law.

The basic course in military science and tactics was this year taken by 2,067 undergraduates. Of this number 1,032 were freshmen, 956 sophomores, and the remaining 88 upperclassmen or special students. The number drilling next year will probably show some increase over these figures because of the advantages offered by the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, the beginning of intensive work in the advanced course, and the general feeling of unrest throughout the country with its corresponding increase of enthusiasm for military matters in the student body.

Aero Unit Probable.

The drill corps this year consists of 12 companies, including a machine gun platoon, a medical detachment and a band. Agitation is at present being made for the establishment of an aero unit. Such a unit, under the instruction of an officer of the United States Army, will be formed should enough men desire it.

The work of the cadet corps in the fall consists mainly in thorough instruction in close order drill and the manual of arms, with tent pitching, bayonet exercises, calisthenic drill and the like. The corps continues out-of-doors drill even through the winter months, except when such work is absolutely impossible. At such times the corps is addressed in assembly by men of authority, or meets by companies for instruction in and discussion of field problems in detail.

Later in the spring, the cadets who are now drilling three times a week will drill every day until Inspection Day. This day is annually set aside for the inspection of the corps by officers of the Regular Army. As a result of the work shown on this day, both at attention in ranks and in extended order on the field of combat, the Cadet Corps is ranked in the records of the Government. The work of the corps has for the last three years earned for the university the title of "Distinguished Institution."