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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1915)
Good Old Summer Time Is Here And With the Season Comes the Demand -FOR= ICOLD DRINKS ICES, FRUITS, FRESH CANDIES And Cigars All these things we have for you in profusion and a force of men that know how to wait on you. Hang Around Hi Campus Confectionery ■' " ,";,K2!iSaEBKS3l®fcaH» '' ,,1 '~ ■a- & & -a- •a- -a- -o- o o o o o o o ■o •0- -a- -o- -o ■o ■o -o- -o -a- ■o ■o ■o -o -o ■o ■o •0- •o- o o -0- •o o- o- -a- •o- o- -o -o ■o o- ■o •0- -o ■o •o -o -o •0- -o- ■o x>^4<42«cC^^O^^^^42424ix>48 4s4s^4j4ji>4ix>x>4xi>4z4si>4s4x4E<sx^x>i>4!i^4x4xii>4j4!i>4E4s4s4jO4J^O^4!O<s0'OO^O^^O<£^^O<*^O<«^OOO^«O424sO^<*O^4*4s4!4*4*O^4*4x4s4*4j4s4i4s4ii4! “STRIVING FOR PEACE, BUT READY FOR WAR.” This is the slogan o£ the National Reserve Corps, organized at Gettys burg August, 1913 5 for the purpose of establishing and supporting a sound national military policy, which includes the maintenance of a highly efficient regular army sufficient for the peace needs of the nation and a well organ ized and efficient militia, each sup ported by adequate reserves. Washington, in his speech to both Houses of Congress, January 8, 1790, said, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of pre serving peace. A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-di gested plan is requisite.” You argue that there is no truth in this quotation, and your argument is based on the pre paredness of the Germans for the pres ent war, but stop a minute and look into the causes of this European strug gle a little further before you draw any conclusions. In the issue of the Battalion dated y January 27, 1915, the editor has print ed a copy of the resolutions of the students of Columbia University, which follows in part: “Resolved, That we, the students of the Columbia Univer sity, in mass meeting assembled, here by go on record before Congress and the people of the United States as op posed to militarism in general and an increase in our army and navy in par ticular.” Some of the speakers on that occasion remarked that “The theory of peace through armaments had been exploded once for all by the present European situation.” Have you ever stopped to think why Belgium is in need of the relief that we are now sending to her? The Bel gians believed that their country was safe from the attacks of enemies, and they had reached a high industrial de velopment by giving their attention to purely commercial pursuits. Germany’s inroad through their country has, in two months, torn usunder the indus trial development of centuries. It’s cities are in a state of ruin, it’s indus tries practically wiped out, and the Belgians themselves are seeking the protection and charity of foreign na tions This is and always will be the fate of a people who are unprepared to defend themselves from attack or who depend upon the peace movement of civilized nations to protect them. The Belgians gathered around their standards and put up a valiant fight against the well-trained troops of the German army^ and so would the citi zens of the United States gather to the defense of their country in case of war, but what can untrained troops accom plish against a well organized army? It may be said here that it is not the intention of the National eserve Corps to foster a spirit of militarism, but merely, as the words on their pin will tell you, to encourage the American people to be “Ready, Organized, Pre pared.” Men who have attended one or more of the students’ military instruction camps, as organized by the War De partment, may become members of the N. R. C. by paying a life membership fee of one dollar, and any other citizen of the United States may become a member by paying an annual fee of one dollar, or a life membership fee of twenty-five dollars. During the summer of 1913 two camps were held by the War Depart ment; one at Monterey and the other at Gettysburg. R. R. Allen of Texas A. and M. attended this camp, and will be more than glad to tell any interested person of the enjoyable and profitable summer that he spent. During the summer of 1^14 four camps were established, one at Mon terey, Cal.; one at Ludington^ Mich.; one at Burlington, Vermont, and the other at Asheville, North Carolina. H. J. Morgan and W. L. Rutan of Texas A. and M. attended the camp at Ashe ville, and will be more than willing to relate the experiences they had during the summer. During the summer of 1915 the fol lowing camps will be established by the War eDpartment: One at Chick- amauga Park, Ga.; one at Plattsburg, Barracks, N. Y.; one at Ludington, Mich., and the other in San Francisco j at or near the Presidio. Any one at tending one of these four camps must be at least five feet four inches in height, and between the ages of 18 and 30. They must be a student of some university or college, or else a grad uate of some large high school. The camp at San Francisco is prob ably the one which will be of most in terest to men of this college, especially those who aro going to the Exposition. Students must pay thir own transpor tation, and furnish their own uniform, which will cost around ten dollars, Subsistence will be furnished for $3.50 per week, and everything else will be furnished gratis by the govern ment. The camp in San Francisco commences June 26th and ends July 31st. The first question that most men ask is, “How muchm ilitary do they give you 5 and do you have any time to yourself?” Judging from one sum mer’s experience, I will say that the military given at the camp is not tire some, it being of such a general na ture and varying so often that one is constantly encountering something new and interesting. No attempt is made to reach perfection in close or der drill, most of the time being given over to extended order and tactical problems. Several days are used up with shooting the courses in target practice, and the last few days of the camp are used for taking a hike. Most of the work done in the after noon is of a voluntary nature, and the nights can always be used as the stu dent desires to use them. The volun- teerw ork in the afternoon consists of cavalry drill, artillery drill, sub calibre rifle practice, signaling, mili tary topography, sabre drill, etc. Reg ular troops are stationed at the camp 5 and aid in instructing the students. Officers and students are on an equal social plane during hours off duty, and much good can be derived by convers ing with these officers. Citizen’s clothes may be worn when not in camp, though special privileges will be given men in uniform by the Exposition au thorities. Several men from here are going to the San Francisco camp this summer. Join them and see the Exposition, while at the same time you can spend a profitable vacation, and get it all very cheaply. If further information is desired, see one of the three who have attended previous camps from here; they will tell you anything you will want to know concerning the camps and give you application blanks.