"WE WERE IMPRESSED?"

Today's exercise brings to a close the year's work of the R. O. T. C. All we have learned of close and open order, of French and American formations, and of discipline we shall have to show in the short space of two hours. The R. O. T. C. authorities sent from a dozen or more outside colleges will be careful and critical observers, and their favorable judgment cannot be obtained by a careless display. To a large extent the success of the Corps as a whole this year will be gauged from today's work. If we have profited by our lessons from Lieutenant Morize and Colonel Applin today is the time to show it. There is no other chance.

When the Corps was so searchingly criticized by Colonel Applin, it was unquestionably in a bad way. The discipline that was maintained last summer had been worn away through apathy and indifference until the whole atmosphere was distinctly bad. At the psychological moment came Colonel Applin, and in his opportune arrival the Corps has certainly shown improvement in the respects he criticized. But the time has been short, and it will be hard to remember everything this afternoon. Every hand raised in ranks and every infraction of strict discipline will be an illuminating commentary on our former laxity and a lesson for next year. For our experience has shown us that it takes more than two weeks, however intense, to build up any real discipline.

But we must do the best we can. As we cannot give "instant and willing obedience to every order" automatically, every man must keep strictly on the job and give the closest attention all the time. We have the chance today to retrieve the good reputation of the corps and make a finish that will enable the observers, however critical, to say, "We were impressed."