St Georges High School - Lance Yearbook (Middletown, RI)

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Q , ., .. - ,A s. .,,. . . -, ,.... ,F T the start of the great liuropean XVar in 1914, there wc,-C few people in the United States who realized the real and immediate danger which confronted the world in the Cierman invasion of Belgium and in her aggression against the greater part of lfurope. Among there few were several St. C.ieorge's boys who managed to in- terest the Headmaster and the boys of the school so much in their plan for military drill that a small battalion was immediately formed and drill at St. George's commenced. An oflicer from Fort Adams was obtained as our instructor, and underihis supervision drill progressed excellently during IQI4-I5 and '16. ln 1917 the situation which confronted the schools of the country was quite Llli'iCl'Cl1f from that of 1914. lt was then apparent to all that the 'United States must be drawn into the great struggle in liurope and that she would have a great and important part to play in it when she went in. Men would soon be needed, so everyone thought, to fight o11 the battlefields of France. and those boys who were then in the preparatory schools of the nation would be called upon to be oflicers, non-commissioned oflicers and privates in our army. The battalion at St. Georgels increased in size so as to include practically everybody in school, and drilling was taken up with renewed vigor. ln the Spring Term, shortly after the declaration of war, the older boys of the school were so enthusiastic that they decided to give up the greater part of their baseball schedule and to drill live times a week for a period of two hours each day. Inten- sive training was taken up in many branches of military work and a great deal was accomplished by those boys who went in for it. Last year the country was still at war and drill went on as successfully as ever before. Several new branches of drill were taken up and the battalion paraded in Newport on two occasions. This year the conditions under which .drill is held have again changed. VVith the signing of the armistice many schools in the United States gave up all the military training which they had been carrying on during the war and returned to their pre-war basis. Some boys at St. Georges seemed to want to discontinue drill here at school, but for many reasons Mr. Cabot decided that it should be kept up at least for the remainder of the school year. Several important innovations were instituted this year in the military training. All the boys who had never had drill before-were drilled intensively for two weeks before the rest of the battalion even began. This was done in order that these boys might know the principles of drill before drilling with the more experienced men, and thus, as in former years, might not hold them back because of their lack of knowledge. VVhen the battalion was permanently formed in the early part of December, it was formed into three companies instead of two as formerly. The third company was formed entirely of the smaller boys and throughout the year has drilled quite apart from the other companies. This division of the battalion has many advantages. ln the past years, the younger boys have found great diliiculty in keeping up with i i 103

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'Wu-ur-ff - - Y-V ,,,,,,,,Y.' 2 TH E BATTALION

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on the older boys in the battalion and consequently have taken little or no interest in military drill. This year they have their own company, their non-commissioned ollicers are their own size, and, as they are almost all appointed from their own l'1UlkS. there is always keen competition going on for the positions. They have also been organized as a signalling unit and have become very prolicient in this as well as in many other branches of military drill.. A Small drtlm and bllgle CUVPS also has been organized and has helped the battalion in close order work and in practicing parades and other ceremonies. Another extremely important innovation this year has been the additions marie to the former system of qualifying men for positions 'ts commissioned and nonrcommissioned ofiicers. Under the old system a man was appointed a commis- C stoned or a non-commissioned olhcer after .passing a short oral examination on the elements of drill. Ihis year a system of written examinations has been instituted whereby a cadet must pass several dilhcult examinations on various phases of military work before he can become an oflicer. In order to be a non-commissioned or a commissioned oflicer, a cadet must qualify by passing examinations in the following subjects: schools of the soldier, squad, company, battaliong 5Cm21Ph01'C Slgllfllllllgi llflyfllwf Llflllt Hllfl llCltl. problems. ln addition to these qualifications he must have ability to com- mand and instruct fairly large bodies ol' men in all of these subjects. This plan of examinations has worked out very well and it is safe to say that the non-commissoned oliicers know more about the principles of drill and their practical application than ever before. A short rifle range was constructed on the north football field and rifle practice has been carried on there as well as on the indoor range with the small caliber rifles. As the light is much better on the outdoor range it makes a far better place to shoot than we have ever had before and many good scores have been made on it. During the Spring Term practice with the Krags on the longer range has been taken up and several good SCOPCS have been made there as well. Bayonet drill as taught in the British and American Armies, which was only touched upon last year, has been taken up intensively this year, and a higher degree of proficiency has been reached in it. Every morning before breakfast the battalion assembled on the South football lield for a brief setting up drill, This drill has helped the school in many ways. ln addition to improving the bearing of the battalion, it has greatly re- duced the number of latenesses to breakfast, as everyone must now come to morning drill or do fatigue duty for two hours on Saturday afternoons. ' The weather during the Winter Term was unusually ml t ant wit a e doors almost every drill day. Drill was held twice a week during the winter for a period of an hour on each day. This time was devoted largely to close order drill, but two maneuvers were held with very satisfactory results. These maneu- vers help greatly to develop the initiative of the men and they take a great deal of interest in them. The results of the time devoted to close order were seen clearly when the battalion participated in a parade given in honor of Admiral Sims. Our platoon fronts were practically perfect as we passed the reviewing stand and every man in the battalion has a right to feel proud of the showing we made on this occasion. Throughout the drill periods the staff has tried to let as many men as possible act as non-commissioned and commissioned oflicers and their ability to command and their interest in drill has been increased in this way. Captain Hulburt, a captain in the coast artillery, has been our military instructor during the past year and he has devoted much of his exceedingly valuable time to the battalion. Under his supervision drill at St. Georgels has gone better than ever before and the I.ANt'lc takes this opportunity to express the gratitude of the school for his valuable aid. M. D. 'll l ' h f w exceptions the battalion drilled out- 10+