THE PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY

The coming week, before the convening of Congress on April 2, will be a period of great political and individual uncertainty. It will be impossible to forecast either what action the President will urge upon Congress, or that which Congress itself will adopt. And while it now seems certain that war will be declared within a comparatively few days, many members of the University will during that time be in a position of personal hesitancy and indecision. "What shall I do when war comes?" is the question we are all asking ourselves.

In many cases this will mean uncertainty as to what form of military training it is best to undertake. The relative merits and advantages of the many possible alternatives should be carefully considered. The R. O. T. C. is first in importance, and would naturally be the choice of those men interested in the army. The advantages of the Reserve Officers' Corps are that the training is intended to produce officers of men in college and enlistment is not binding for more than the duration of the actual training period. Other branches of the regular army are the Battery and Cadet Corps, in which the member pledges himself for a certain length of time. In the navy, the patrol boat units are popular due to the attractive quality of the work. Enlistment in groups or singly is for four years, with three months' service during that time. Resignations will ordinarily be accepted except during periods of strained foreign relations or actual war. It is also possible to enlist in the regular navy and its branches for definite periods. The aviation section of the Signal Officers' Reserve Corps is still open, although over eighty men have already joined. The period of enlistment after training is six years, a short time annually being given to practice. For those men who are physically unqualified for active military service because of minor defects, such as eyesight, the new Norton-Harjes and American Field ambulance units afford the quickest and most satisfactory means of offering their services to the country indirectly by helping in France, Enlistment is for terms of six months, with ten-day vacations, most of the expenses being paid.

This does not complete the list of possible ways of training or serving in the military forces of the United States, though it does include the most popular and practical. What is essential is that every member of the University should have some decision on what he will do in case of war before Congress meets next Monday. Then if, as seems probable; war is declared the University as a whole will be able to throw itself unreservedly into the service of the Government. Confidence and determination will take the place of doubt and irresolution. If we must have a period of uncertainty let it be now rather than after war has actually been declared to exist.