T Official Statement on Camps HE Secretary of War authorizes publication of the following statement on the accomplishments of the summer camps for field training: "With last week the field training of our citizen forces for the current year was concluded. This summer for the first time all elements of the Army provided by Congress in the light of the World War for the National Defense have participated in field training. Everywhere throughout the United States, the outstanding features of the training camps have been the enthusiasm with which all concerned have thrown themselves into the work, and as a necessary sequence, the generally high level of accomplishment. Regulars, National Guardsmen, Reserves, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and civilians of the Military Training Camps have worked side by side with a growing appreciation of the necessity for each element in the National Defense, and of the role each is to play. Consequently, the work of this summer is believed to constitute a long step forward towards uniting the several elements into one homogeneous citizen Army of the United States. "Reserves-The Organized Reserves made their first appearance this summer in the training camps of the New Army. Sufficient funds were available for calling less than 5,000 into camps. The greater part of those attending had been commissioned officers during the World War. Programs for their training accord T A Tip HE following pertinent memorandum has been issued by Brigadier General Harry H. Bandholtz, commanding headquarters, District of Washington: "Our participation in the World War coupled with its unexpected early termination after our entry, caused our military establishment to undergo such a sudden expansion and then shrinkage that it will take a long time for it to resume stable conditions. "Among conspicuous changes are noted the rapid promotions to perinanent grades in the regular establishment, rapid almost beyond precedent. Young officers have attained field rank with far less service than was form ingly were calculated to refresh their "C. M. T. C.-Nearly three times ment. Instruction was carried on by experts, many of whom were recent graduates of our Special Service Schools. In addition to instructors from the Regular Army, each corps area used about 100 reserve officers, who not only served to instruct the organizations of the C. M. T. C., but incidentally acquired experience of great value towards their own efficiency. "National Guard and R. O. T. C.— For both the National Guard and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, the experience of previous years had largely eliminated all experimental questions from their field training. This summer both consistently followed systematic programs which constituted an additional and very satisfactory step in their progressive development. With this year, the National Guard has generally completed two years of the training of small units. In addition to this purely troop training the camps feature a limited amount of training for higher commanders by means of terrain exercises without troops, supervised and conducted by teams of instructors from the Leavenworth Schools. Somewhat more advanced work for some portions of the National Guard in the shape of maneuvers of rather larger bodies of troops would seem to be indicated for the summer of 1923. "The National Guard, the Regular Army and the Reserves are entitled to the highest praise for the fine spirit with which they have worked." for Junior Officers erly required to pass from the grade ing in a knowledge of the rudiments of the military etiquette and a few of them have shown a disinclination to abide by the legal and proper decision of higher authority and an inability, therefore, to carry out loyally the policies and decisions of their superiors. "This condition must be the result either of a disinclination to study, or of lack of experience, or both, and it is for this reason that it is deemed advisable to invite the attention of any such officers to the fact that a continuation of their present line of thought and action cannot result otherwise than prejudicially to themselves." Work has been started upon hangars, and a contractor is on the ground to commence the grading of the 99th Division Flying Field at Pittsburgh, Pa. This field, which was presented to the government by the Aero Club of Pittsburgh, is located about one mile from Hoboken, Pa., a short distance above Pittsburgh on the Allegheny River. It will be in shape to receive flying equipment in about two months. Besides being the headquarters of the 324th Aero Squadron of the 99th Reserve Division, this field will serve for the Army Corps Squadrons of the surrounding counties. Here it is hoped that the many Reserve Pilots of Western Pennsylvania will be able to get in sufficient refresher work to keep them actively interested and in touch with all new developments in the Air Service. At the camp of instruction recently held at Langley Field, Va., the 324th Aero Squadron was represented by two officers. Other Squadrons of Western Pennsylvania represented were the 304th Squadron and the 305th Squadron. * Certain educational institutions throughout the country are granting concessions to the children of officers, warrant officers and enlisted men of the army. The schools in the Fifth Corps area granting concessions are: (M) Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. One-half tuition rates. (C) Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.: Scholarship covering tuition and fees except breakage. (F) Bethel Women's College, Hopkinsville, Ky.: Free tuition. (One.) Board is $275 for the college year. (C) Center College, Danville, Ky. Free tuition to the son of an army officer or enlisted man. (F) Perkins Normal School, Akron, Ohio: Will pay $2.50 per day during entire course, but must teach two years in Akron after graduation. (M) Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio: Free tuition for two sons of an army officer or enlisted man. (C) Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio: One Scholarship of $120 applied on tuition to son or daughter of officer or enlisted man. Note: (F) Female College. (M) Male College. (C) Co-educational college. * The follow-up letter has long been recognized in the commercial world as a selling agent of incalculable value. It is the silent salesman which penetrates the places not easily accessible to the traveling man, and has the advantage of reaching the prospective customer at first hand, minus the formalities of the interview. Its potency lies in the fact that the follow-up letter may be sent broadcast and reach thousands at a given time: that a big percentage of the letters will be read and that replies in many instances will be the reward. As a part of a plan to stimulate interest in the Citizens' Military Training Camps, Major Harvey H. Fletcher, recruiting officer of the Second Corps Area at Governors Island. New York, employed the follow-up method from a different angle. His idea was to render candidate material a service, and in no instance was anyone required to obligate himself. A letter was sent to 560 young men who were applicants, but failed to report for duty at the training camps. In a surprisingly short time replies began to flow into the recruiting office. A count was taken which showed that more than one-half of those written to had answered. Copies of the special C. M. T. C. edition of the New York Evening Post were recently mailed to all candidates ordered to camps, irrespective of whether or not they attended. The newspaper contained detailed accounts of the progress at the seven camps in the Second Corps Area and was illustrated with photographs. Letters of inquiry have already begun to come in. When a reason was looked for, due to the renewed interest in the training camps movement. it was found that one young man stated he had received a newspaper. Just as the indirect fire of giant coast defense guns accounts for many hits at targets miles away, so it is thought that these indirect followups--they do a service and require nothing in return-will score innumerable recruiting hits for the Citizens Military Training Camps which will be held in the Second Corps Area in 1923. Shooting in the Herrick Trophy match of the national rifle and pisto matches, the United States Infantry rifle team hung up a perfect score on the 800-yard range, establishing a world's record. Each of the eight Infantrymen composing the team had a string of 15 bull's-eyes to his credit. besides each man registering bull'seyes with his two shots for record. Never before in the history of the rifle matches has this feat been ac complished, the nearest to it having been within five points, this former record being also held by Infantry men. |