Inspector's Report - August 5, 1909

The Crack 1909 Batalliion of Cadets of Culver Military Academy

Again Placces Culver Military Academy in List of Disinguished Institutions

Culver MIlitary academy is once more in the class of "distinguished" institutions as such are designated by the war department after a careful inspection by a memeber of the General Staff.

Of course no one in the academy anticipated any other result, but there is the keen satisfaction of havinv one's hopes realized and winning again in the face of the competition among the elect whose number is limited to ten.

The actual result of the inspection has been known for a month when general orders 123 of the war department announced the list of schools.

The full report of the inspector, however, was not received until this week and the log has deferred any reference to the result until it coul give the full in full.

The original ten is as follows:
G.O. 123, June 23, 1909, War Dept.

1.- Upon the report of the chief of staff, based upon reports received from institutions at which officers of the army are detailed as professors of miilitary science and tactics, the followinf named institutions of learning, arranged alpabetically, are announces as the ten whose students have exhibited the greatest application and proficiency in military training and knowledge, as contemplated by Pars. 5 and 24, G.O. No. 155, 1907 and Par. II,, G.O. No. 84 and Par. 8, G. O. No. 86 1909, W.D.
College of St. Thomas, - St. Paul, Minn.;
Culver MIlitary Academy, - Culver, Ind.;
New Mexico Militayr Institute, - ROswell, N.M.;
Norwich University, - Northfield, vt.;
Pennsylvania Military College, - Annapolis, Md.;
St. John's College, - Annapolis, Md.;
St. John's School, - Manlius, M. Y.;
Shattuck School, - Faribault, Minn.;
South Carolina Military Academy, - Charleston, S. C.;
Virginia Military Institute, - Lexington, Va.
.

We print below the complete report of the inspection as made on May 5, 1909, by Captain P. D. Lochridge of the general Staff. The directions to inspectors and the form questions are included.

NOTES

In addition to the questions answered by the officer on duty at the college in his report, which should accompany the report of inspection the information called for within. The report of inspection need not necessarily be confined to the subjects mentioned. Any specially meritotius methods of instruction emploued in the military department likely to be of interest at other institutions will be noted in full

In making his estimate of the efficiency of the military department of the ollege, the inspector will not assume as a standard anything but perfection. This may not be reached by any one of the colleges, but it will be noted in what respects, and to what degree this institution falls sort of it. The best insitution is the one which approximates most nearly to the ideal.


1. - Ist his institution essentially a military school, or is the military instruction merely a single feature of the course.?
Essentially military school

2. - What degree of importance is attached to the military instruction by the faculty?
The greatest

3. - Is there any change in the War department clssification desirable?
No.

4. - If not already classified, what claasification should be made?
Now Class A, distinguished.

5. - Is the officer on duty at the college cordially supported by the faculty in the matter of military instruction and discipline? Give explicitly yor reasons for arriving at this conculsion
Yes. I was so informed by Captain Adams and Colonel FLeet, the superintendent.

6. - Are the students required to be continuously in uniform, and to the leadm as far as the surrounding conditions can reasonably ne exopected to permit, a military life? In other words, are the conditions such as to impress them constantly with a sense of being under military discipline>
Yes

7. - To what extent is a military spirit develiped and nurtured?
The greatest

8. - WIth what degree of zeal is military duty preformed?
Excellent

9. - What was the general appearance of the cadets at inspection?
Excellent

10.- Have the requirements of Par 22,G. O. 255, W. D., 1907 as to time allowed the military department been fully complied with?
Yes

11. - Have the requirements of Par. 22, G. O. 155, W.D., 1907, as to the course of instruction been complioed with?
Yes

12. Is the efficiency in infantry instruction and training suffiiently advanced to warrant devotingtime too instruction in artillery or other branches?
Yes

13. Is the military instruction of such extent and thoroughness as to qualify the a verage graduate for a commission as a lieutenant of volunteers?
Yes

14. Personally interview the students of the graduating class reported as having shown special aptitude for military service, and state your opinion as to their gualifications so far as you can ascertain the same from suitable questions in the course of conversation with them. Endeavor to form a general idea as to their fondess for military life, the exent of their military and historical reading, and their general intelligence, neatness, and good manners. Do not report to them individually, but give your impression of these selected cadets as a whole.
They impressed me very favorably

15. Is the military professor elible for this detail? (Parr 6 and 7, G. O. 155, w. D., 1907)
Yes

16. Is he satisfactory too the college authorities?
Yes

17. - Is the retired noncommissioned officer on duty at this institution satisfactory?
None Here 18 - Do the conditions warrant the continuance of the detail of an officer as professor of military science and tactics at this institution?
Yes

GENERAL REMARKS

I inspected 295 cadets 0 staff, band and a four-company battallion Uniforms neat and fitted will; belts, brasses and gloves clean; shoes well polished; guns in good condition; caets well set up. Band very good. General appearance excellent.

Escort of the color, battalion review, battalion parade, battalion drilll, close and extended order, spar and pontoon bridge building, trooper drill in riding hall, marching and manual of alrms -
all excellent

Gaurd mounting, signaling with flags, helipgraphs, telephine and field telegrssph; litter drill and first aid; bayonet exercises, shelter tent pitching; gatling gun drill; battery drill with four 32 inch guns; hasty intenchements; troop inspection, and close and extended order drill; and drill of companies in close and extended order - -
all very good

Condition of cadet barracks at inspection of quarters, - c Very good

Mess Hall - Good

Cadet Mess - excellent
,br> SPlendid new cadet hospital with 28 beds, in excellent condition.

Gymnasium, dirll hall,, aromory and riding hall excellent

With officials of the academy, I inspected sentinels on ppost two nights, and founf cadets well instructed in guard duty

This instituion has 52 good horses which are used for calvary, artillery and gatling gun drills.

The rifle range with thre targets is excellent up to 699 yards. Range and gallery shooting excellent.
,
Much attention is paid to practical military instruction. May of the road sketches and reports, made by all cadets who graduae are excellent.

Excellent athletic training was shown by wall scaling and acrobatic oeformances.

As soon as students enter this institution they are put in uniform. The academy keeps a lot khaki clothing on had for this purpose.
,br> At the request of the Commandant, I suggested a tactical problem for the cadets which called for advance, flank and rear guards, outpostsm the defense of a position, and the attack of a position. The solution was very good, notwithstanding heavy rain much of the times.

(Signed) P. D. Lochridge, Captain, General Staff Corps, Inspector.

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