Wartime Education Subject Of Conference at Capital

Speakers at the recent "Educational Crisis" conference in Washington, D.C., painted a picture of colleges devoted to Army and Navy officers-to-be, returned by the services, sub-draft Freshmen, and the physically deficient.

This is a concrete statement, which is based mainly on facts, and as little as possible on conjecture. But even definite statements from high Army and Navy officials cannot be regarded as the unchangeable shape of things to come. They can only be looked at as straws in the wind. Not until the Official stamp of the departments concerned is affixed to the proposals are they definite.

Discussions were held on each of the three main branches of men new in the colleges; the Enlisted Reserves, the ROTC units, and the new-draftable students.

As for the Army Enlisted Reserve: a high-ranking civilian connected with the War Department declared that "in all probability, the ERC will be called up right off." Students at the conference expressed that hope, when he asked for their opinions. The Navy V-1, he declared, would be shifted to the new re-assignment plan. It seemed evident that both branches are making move towards tightening up their programs, and insisting on special courses.

Outstanding statement concerning the status of the ROTC was made by a representative of Selective Service: "There may not be any ROTC in ten days." But both branches of the armed forces stressed the importance of an enlarged officers' corps, and delegates were left to draw their own conclusions from the conflicting statements.

According to Washington papers Saturday morning, the War Department announced that induction of 'teen agers would begin within 60 days. Other unofficial reports have contradicted this however. At any rate, the program of re-assigning approximately 100,000 future Army officers, and perhaps half as many Navy men to the colleges was accepted as a premise by all speakers.

Though the details of this proposal have not been revealed, broad outlines of it were sketched by President Roosevelt in his message on the lowered draft age bill. It seems to consist of those men who, after their 13 weeks of basic training, show the potentialities, though as yet undeveloped, of officers. They will return, in uniform and at Government expense, to the colleges for "training for specific posts." While in college, they will draw pay.

Particularly for the members of the ERC, this plan is one of three alternatives. For those who show that they are capable of leading men and mature enough to do the job, Officer Candidate School is the destination after their fundamental weeks. The remainder, who are neither returned to college nor sent to Candidate School, will be sent out with troops. According to one authority, the Army will give examinations at the graduations of high school students to weed out those who should be sent to college for training. He stated that the Navy may also follow this policy.

The War Department official promised a conclusive announcement in the near future--probably within a week. Meanwhile, as the colleges wait for the long demanded blueprint fitting them into their place in the fight for their existence, and for all that they represent, the advice to students of the War Manpower Commission is to continue studying.