APPENDIX A.

COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS.

Inspections.

During the past year the military departments of 102 educational institutions having an army detail were inspected, and an inspection was made at another, though it had been temporarily without a military professor. During the preceding year 104 colleges were inspected. This important duty was performed by the 8 regular inspectors of this department, who visited 82 institutions, and by 9 special inspectors, who visited 21. The following table exhibits the names of the officers who made the inspections and the number of colleges and students inspected by each:

Fifty of these colleges were inspected this year by the same officers who visited them last year, and a number of the special inspectors had had previous experience in this duty and showed tact and zeal in its performance. The influence of an inspector upon the inspected should be far-reaching, and it is therefore desirable that the inspections be conducted, whenever practicable, by officers familiar with the subject.

For the purpose of interesting the State military authorities in the college cadets of their respective States, letters were addressed by Maj. J. P. Sanger, inspectorgeneral, to the adjutant-general of the States visited by him, notifiying them of the inspections and inviting them or their representatives to be present. In reporting the result Major Sanger says:

"At all the inspections, save at Girard College, the two institutions in Virginia, and the Allegheny College, officers of the National Guard of the State in which the inspection was made accompanied the inspector, at his request, with a view to promoting greater interest on the part of the State military authorities in the college battalions. In three instances the officers present were of the staff of the governor of the State; in other cases they were members of local companies of the National Guard, detailed by the adjutant-general of the State.

"Gen. C. J. Anderson, adjutant-general of Virginia, was prevented from being present by sudden illness.

"I venture to suggest that the Inspector-General of the Army request the governors of the States to detail an officer of their respective staffs-preferably the inspector-general or his assistant-to be present at the college inspections of the ensuing year, on notification of the date of inspection by the inspector. A report of the inspection should be made by such officer to the adjutant-general of the State. This cannot fail to arouse an interest in the State military authorities, and, where it is desired, render the incorporation of the cadets into the National Guard less difficult."

Maj. F. Moore reports:

"In the course of my inspection I was generally accompanied by the presidents of the institutions, though not in all cases. They evinced considerable interest, and asked me to point out in what way improvements could be made, saying it

would be done as far as conditions would permit. I also noticed that considerable interest was taken by people residing near the colleges, who turned out in large numbers to see the inspection; this, of course, tends to encourage the military department."

A copy of the inspection report of each institution has been furnished its president under the requirements of General Orders, No. 93, Headquarters of the Army, 1893. These reports are frequently consulted by military professors and others interested in this work and contain many useful suggestions and serve as a guide to better success, and would furnish much-needed information that more than one battalion among these 12,000 students should find useful or interesting.

During the past year no change in the officers at 78 institutions Military professors. was made; at the remaining 24, new officers were detailed, and this seems to be about the normal annual change. It is quite evident that with judicious management and complete and accurate knowledge a selection and assignment of the best officers to the best colleges will produce the best results. Maj. J. P. Sanger reports:

"There is no doubt some difference in the aptitude of the several officers for this duty, as well as in their personal influence with the college authorities and students, resulting from the personality of the officer. The main obstacle to success lies in the attitude of the college authorities and their liberality toward the military department."

While suggesting that General Orders. No. 93 of 1893, be modified, he says:

Similarly, at many other colleges, officers are used as school-teachers and accomplish but little in behalf of the War Department. In short, their civil duties are paramount, and military tactics' which they are alone authorized by law to teach, receive secondhand consideration. This is natural, and results from the situation. Proper military instruction is impossible at these institutions for lack of numbers. Under the present system of college details, officers may apply for college duty, and colleges are permitted to apply for officers by name. The agreement to teach in the academic branch and the remuneration to be paid, are always arranged in advance, and in many instances constitute the sole reason for the application on the part of the college and the sole object of the officer in accepting the detail.

"How can there be military efficiency under such a system, and who can tell how far-reaching the lack of discipline and instruction may be?

"Officers should be detailed on account of their fitness alone, and should be imbued with the desire to make efficiency in military tactics' the test of their abilities as soldiers, and not their knowledge of mathematics or law.

"2. When details are changed both officers should be present at the institution, and the old officer should be required to turn over to the new, receiving a memorandum receipt therefor to be forwarded to the War Department, all the property of the United States for which the college is responsible, together with the books and records of the Department.

"The relieving officer should arrive, when practicable, before the last parade of the cadets, and should accompany the old officer in a formal inspection of the cadets. Of this inspection a report should be made to the Inspector-General of the Army by each officer.

"The new officer should also receive from the old such information concerning the military department as the experience of the previous four years had developed, and should not begin his tour, as many do, with no knowledge of the situation and no experience to guide him.

"As has been suggested by Colonel Vroom, before making an original detail to a college, the inspector-general or acting inspector-general of the inspection district in which the college is located, should visit the college and confer with the president, to whom he should explain the requirements of the orders and the expectations of the War Department that all undergraduates, not physically incapacitated, will procure uniforms and take the course of military instruction, and that proficiency in the prescribed course of the military department will be as much as proficiency in any other course a condition of graduation and of a diploma. Both these points should be insisted on, and should be incorporated in any subsequent orders which may be issued, more particularly the latter.

"When a college furnishes cadets enough to enable the professor of military science and tactics to form an infantry battalion of not less than four good-sized companies, the question of exemption may be considered, and not before, but on all accounts proficiency in the course of instruction should be insisted on as a condition of graduation.

"Of 104 colleges inspected last year, but 56 had adopted this rule so indispensable in the average college, to attendance, and consequently to instruction. As long as college cadets know that their standing in their classes and the certainty of a diploma are not affected by their record in the military department, they will do very much as they please. In the best managed colleges proficiency in the military department is a requirement, and should be in all.

"Having concluded his interview, the inspector should make a written report of the views of the president or other college authorities as to the status to be given the military department, the probable number and obligations of the cadets, the facilities for instruction and for the care of Government property. On the character of this report the detail may be made or withheld." Lieut. Col. P. D. Vroom reports:

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"Some progress has undoubtedly been made in military instruction in colleges during the last few years, but the whole system could, in my opinion, be materially improved. I believe the law should be so amended as to further require the institution to have not less than one hundred male students capable of bearing arms habitually in attendance. The law should further provide that no officer shall be detailed to college duty who has not had at least ten years' service in the Army." Capt. George B. Walker, Sixth United States Infantry, who inspected three colleges, says:

"It appears to me proper that no officer should be detailed to a college until such institution has formally agreed to certain conditions, which, if not carried out by the end of the first year, should cause the discontinuance of the military department at that institution. Some such conditions might be the following: (1) An effective support of the military instructor by the faculty in matters of discipline. (2) Every cadet should appear in complete uniform for military duty. (3) (4) Cadet chevrons should be worn to indicate all ranks. (5) A flag should be hoisted at all times during daylight.

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"In looking for proper stations for military instructors, probably the following would furnish the most fruitful field: (1) State universities or agricultural colleges. (2) Highly endowed pay schools, such as the Cathedral School of New York. Sectarian schools are too often dependent on tuition fees to have the power to properly support the military instructor. (3) Private military schools."

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The regulations governing the detail of officers, prescribed by the Secretary of War, permit military professors to perform also other duties than those pertaining to military instruction, and receive compensation therefor. The reports show that at 56 institutions they utilized their spare time with profit to themselves and the colleges, and at 48 they received extra compensation, ranging from $100 to $1,200 per annum. In 13 cases there was no compensation for the extra labor, and in 5 cases there was no additional labor for the extra compensation. At 12 institutions they were also provided with quarters in addition to the compensation, and at 7 they received quarters without additional compensation. The extra duties performed by them included instruction in mathematics, languages, law, history, and other branches of science as well as disciplinary surpervision, serving on committees, inspection of quarters, etc. At one institution the military professor reports that he instructed a class of militia officers in the neighboring city.

Band.

At 58 schools bands or drum corps have been organized, which are usually supported by the institution, supplemented in many instances by voluntary contributions and subscriptions. The provisions for the band seem to be liberal at some schools, where the members are paid a regular salary, or allowed their tuition fees, or uniformed and equipped free of charge. A well-conducted band is an important adjunct to a military organization. One of the military professors, who raised a band during the past year by subscription, reports that it adds more than anything else to his department, as he is now enabled to have ceremonies to relieve the monotony of drill.

The national flag is displayed at 75 institutions from a flagFlag display. staff on the grounds or from one of the academic buildings, but there seems to be no uniform rule for its display. At 51 institutions it is ordinarily displayed from morning until evening with some variations, and at 24 it flies only on special occasions. The display of the national flag at institutions where an officer of the Army is the instructor seems most proper, and it has been suggested that this requirement be made one of the conditions for the detail of an army officer. It is also suggested that the flag be raised and lowered and saluted daily, and at all times as prescribed in the Army regulations. At 81 institutions the military organizations carry the national colors; 18 also the State, school, regimental or battalion flag; at 7 institutions a flag is carried, but it is not national, and at 14 no flag is carried.

At the following institutions located in as many States, the Legal recognition. military organizations have been made a part of the National Guard of the State, or given at least a legal existence under the State laws: State Agricultural College of Colorado, Northern Illinois Normal School, Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, University of the State of Missouri, Bingham School of North Carolina, South Carolina Military Academy, Agricultural College of South Dakota, Norwich University of Vermont, Virginia Military Institute, and West Virginia University. This is an increase of three over the number reported in 1895. Maj. J. P. Sanger reports on this subject: "It would seem that the college battalions should be organized under the laws of