Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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O. A. C CADET OFFICERS

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The Military Department ft ft By .Mark V. Weatherford “In such n measure as we are prepared to enforce them, will our demands on other nations receive consideration,” are the words of Theodore Roosevelt, and perhaps no better definition of the relation of war to our modern civilization could lie framed. There has been a growing tendency, with the rapid development and progress of every department of science, to do away with the suffering and hardships of war. Scarcely a half dozen years have passed since the czar of Russia issued his famous proclamation to the powers of the world, pleading for a conference wherein an international tribunal could l»e organized, through which all difference between nations coud be peaceably settled, and the horrors of campaigns should exist only as a relic of the past. Today that crowned head sits upon the same throne, not as an advocate of universal peace, but the director of one of the bloodiest wars ever recorded in history, either ancient or modern. While it is universally admitted that the elimination of war from the records of the twentieth century would be a commendable tiling, still it has proved an iin|x«ssiliility. Our nation in the future, as it has in the past, must rely upon its constituents for the perpetuation of its principles and the protection of its rights. It is an established fact that we cannot put all our trust in a regular army. The standing army of the United States consists of about 100,000 men. At the close of the Civil War there were over 1,000,000 soldiers in the service. This is significant: that should the stars and stripes again tloat over an army engaged in active warfare, the call for volunteers will bo made and the strength of the gigantic army of the Rebellion will lie duplicated before the echo of that call has ceased resounding throughout the extent of our land. In such a case-, the war department will not lie under the strained conditions of 1861. Although the knowledge was gained by the sacrifice of thousands of lives, the conductors of that war saw that the men were eager to fight for their Hag; yet the masses of recruits were useless when not properly officered, in order that posterity should not have to en-

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counter such u harrier. ami perhaps with tlic end in view of strengthening and perfecting our military standing, congress, at the suggestion of President Lincoln, created a film! for the establishment and support of schools, where the practical sciences and arts coud ls‘ studied, and also instruction could be given to the students in military science and drill. The Oregon Agricultural College is one of these schools. Its history from tin year 1872. when military instruction was first introduced, to the present time has been one of continual progress. The change from one crude structure and n block of ground to ten modem, well-furnished buildings with a spacious campus, the replacing of the small classes by the largest enrollment of any college in .the state, is symbolic of its development. Of no le»« marked degree has been the growth of the military department. Like the other departments in the college, the military organization has not achieved its present state of excellence at a single stride nor in a single year; but slowly as time pared by. every year stands as a distinct period in its evolution from a 'few score of recruits to the pnsnt corps as it ap| carx on tin- parade grounds. It Is gratifying to know, however. that much more progress lias been made within the most recent •(ars than in those of any other period. Previous to 1900 there were three companies of infantry and a detachment of .signal corps. During tlje year WW there was one battalion of infantry, consisting of four cmiMKinirx. At the present time the formation is regimental, composed of two battalions and a hand of thirty pieces. The first liattaliou consists Ojjfour companies of infantry. The second battalion is composed of detachinenta of cavalry, artillery, signal corps, and hospital corps. The organization i under the command of a regular army officer and is governed by almost exactly the same rules as tlx .- in vogue in our standing army. The cadet officers are selected from the Junior and Senior class ; the non commissioned officers from the Senior, Junior and Sophomore claws. Officers anil non-commissioned officers are required to be thoroughly conversant with the regulations governing military tactics. as well as have a good standing in their regular class . No cadet can graduate and receive a diploma unless proficient in the military department. The cadets drill tire time a week, receiving instruction in the particular organization to which they lielong. While every one agrees that this instruction will prove advantageous to the country in times of war. there are few who have not considered the benefit to lie derived in time of peace. I f wo were not to consider a man 'a duty to hi flag; if we wore to make no calculations of a future war. the time spent in drill would be n dividcml-paying investment. It improves the physique and ap| esirance of a cadet. It teaches prompt action and strict obedience to order . The system of keeping record in the United State army is said to be the best in the world. A study of such a system will suggest idea of exactnesi and present principles of economy, which are of vital importance to a successful citizen. It also give an insight to the strength of our nation, a well as a conception of the art of organization, control and care of troop . The band is under the direction of a competent musician. Several new instruments haw been procured by the board of regent , and the present year finds the regimental band more complete than ever. Several times since their organization the O. A. C. cadets have, at the close of the college year, entered an encampment for two or three days, thus receiving instruction in the actual field duties of a soldier. The present cadet corps may bo congratulated upon being more fortunate than any of their predeerewors along this line. Through the effort of our commandant. Lieutenant Quinlan, it has been made posable for every cadet to enter an encampment for ten days at the Lewis and (’lark Fair. The institution will be represented in the competitive drills, both by the entire military organization and by selected companies. Cadets from military schools ami crack compaim of the National Guard from all parts of the United States will take part in these exhibition drills, and the closest competition will prevail. At this time very little can be said with regard to our chances, but the cadets will go into the contest with the feeling that they will do credit to their college and state. The school year of XM-'OS closes a most successful epoch in the military department, yet even more could probably have been accomplished ha l not the cadet been hampered bv lack of drill room ami compelled to tise the old-style Springfield rifle . Our present armory, 70x100 fret, is not large enough to accommodate the entire body, and during stormy weather, when the parade ground cannot be used, the officer experience difficulty in instructing their men. The artillery have been compelled to une guns that would scarcely bring a first-class figure if placed on the market «« old iron. From present indication , the military body will not long be compelled to labor under these adverse conditions. Indeed, bright prospects for the future are looked for by those intimately associated with the de-