DIAL 4-5444STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY

NEWSPAPER OF TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE The Battalion DIAL 4-5444

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF

COLLEGE STATION

122 ADMINISTRATION BLDG. VOLUME 41 ( COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 8, 1942 Z275 NUMBER 43

No Finals, May 16 Graduation, Three Semester Year Passes Academic Council, Awaits Final Board Edict

C C Hedges Given Reins Of College Defense Council

Six Committees Govern 14 Zones; Plan For Eventualities in Case of Air RaidsPossible utilization of the stadium and more probable

the moving of the cadet corps to the open country in the case of an air attack was among the plans discussed at the first meeting of the newly organized College Defense coum cil. The council held its first meeting on December 18, and appointed six main committees and assigned duties to each.

The general plan is under the direction of Dr. C. C. Hedges who is the coordinator. The mayor, F. G. Anderson, has been designated by the Governor as the city representa­tive on the Civilian National Defense program and he in turn has appointed the coordinator whose duty is to act in his place in organizing the different departments of the city into one national defense group.

An idea of the functions of eachcommittee can be gained from the following outline made for the Police services committee. They will handle the training of person­nel, warnings including sirens and air horns, local watches and black­outs. Power wardens will be ap­pointed and the committee will handle the extinction of exterior lighting—streets and bridges, ve­hicles, signs, and shops—and dim­ming of interior light. Control of population which will cover ces­sation of traffic, taking the pop­ulation to cover, protection of lost and abandoned articles, and evac­uation of danger zones. Mainten­ance of law and order which in turn will prevent sabotage and crime will be on the duties. After the a- forementioned has been done the committee will direct action for the removal of delayed action bombs.

Fourteen zones have been set up for the protection against fire in the case of a widespread attack.

The six committees appointed are as follows: fire fighting ser-

Fiscal Office Sets 5 PM Deadline For January Payments

Maintenance must be paid today in order to avoil penalty, Clifford C. Edge, cashier, announces. The Fiscal office will be open until 5 p. m. to take care of last min­ute payments.

Students with unpaid mainten­ance will be dropped from the col­lege rolls and must pay a dollar penalty in addition to their main­tenance to be reinstated.

vices, police services, medical ser­vices, public works, streets, build­ings, water, and sewage, main­tenance of vital services and pub­lic relations and education.

Members of the fire fighting services committee are F. B. Brown, chairman, Fred Hale, J. C. Hotard, R. T. Poland, C. N. Shep- ai’dson, and D. W. Williams. On the police services committee are Lieut. Joe E. Davis, chairman, F. G. An­derson, R. J. Tilton, and Fred Hale.

Medical services are under the direction of M. L. Cushion, chair­man, Mrs. G. W. Adriance, D. W. Williams, Leroy Brown, C. N. Shep- ardson, and J. C. Hotard. Public works, streets, buildings, water and sewage is under the direction of B. D. Marburger, chairman, T. R. Spence, Lieut. Joe E. Davis, F. G. Anderson and Joe Skiles.

Maintenance of vital services will be headed by T. R. Spence, chairman, B. D. Marburger, D. W. Williams and Joe Skiles. Public re­lations and education will be di­rected by Dr. C. C. Hedges, chair­man, C. N. Shepardson, Joe Skiles, F. G. Anderson and Lieut. Joe E. Davis.

Engineering Dean Tells Cadets former Commandant How to Serve Best the Nation

Engineering students may best serve the United States in the all-out war effort by staying at school and sacrificing all non-essential activities for concentrated study, Dean Gibb Gilchrist of the school of engineering states in an open message to the engineering students of the college.

Rev Confined To Veterinary Hospital

Reveille, football team mascot, is confined to the Veterinary hos­pital recuperating from the ef­fects of the winter. Because of her advanced age, she is not able to withstand the rigors of cold wea­ther, but she is expected to re­cover shortly, the hospital announ­ced yesterday.

The dean’s letter follows.:<To All Engineering Students:

An analysis of our country’s needs in the present war effort reveals an acute need for engineers. We are all willing and anxious to put forth every possible effort toward doing our part but what we perhaps have not yet realized is that doing so is going to entail sacrifices by all. Our greatest “bot­tleneck”—and not one of us can deny our particular part—is going to be waste of time unless we all firmly resolve that is not be so. It is human nature to spend a great deal of time in discussion of any vital issue. Intelligent discus­sion is always helpful but in war­time deeds are so much more im­portant than words that there should be only the essential min­imum of the latter.

The duty of the engineering stu­dent is clear. To be of the greatest service he must stay on the job and prepare himself for his pro­fession and for the all-out war

effort in the quickest and most thorough way possible. A student of engineering who is giving every possible moment to his studies is in a sense making munitions for use against the enemy. “Doing our part” is going to mean sacrificing all non-essential activities for con­centrated study. Remaining on the campus over the week ends and spending a goodly portion of the time in study is suggested as an example. It is going to mean effort on the part of everyone toward the discouragement of idle talk among fellow students and the en­couragement of profitable use of time.

It is hoped that every student in the School of Engineering will recognize and accept his respon­sibility to himself and his country by setting as his personal obpect- ive a higher scholastic mark than he has ever attained.

Gibb Gilchrist,Dean of Engineering.”

According to the U. S. Army recruiting office, G. F. Moore, for­mer commandant of A. & M., has now been promoted to the rank of Major-General. General Moore has been stationed on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines. This promotion would place General Moore in command of the island.

Mobile Army Unit Returns to Campus

Ninety-five Aggies have entered their applications to the U. S. Army recruiting unit here for training which will lead to com­missions in the air corps. The re­cruiting unit is located on mili­tary walk in front of the flag pole and has another office in Room 37, Ross hall. The unit is com­manded by Captain C. T. Sprague, Class of ’22. Assisting Captain Sprague are Captain W. H. Cul­bertson, Corporal Robert, and Cor­poral Hbbbins,

Captain Sprague has advised all Aggies to secure their birth certif­icates immediately, since these documents are required by every branch of the armed forces and will save a great deal of time for any enlistment. Captain Sprague has invited any person to call at the recruiting unit to obtain any information about any army en­listment in general, aviation ca­dets, or the selective service.

Classes of '17/18 Forgot Draft Worries;

Aggies Inducted, Then Assigned Study Duty During World War I

By Ken BresnenIn the summer of 1917 A. &

M. began to train men for the armed forces of a United States than engaged in World War I. A group of college gradutes, pro­fessors, and students were organ­ized into Depot Co. K and received training in Signal Corps work. The initial group consisted of about 80 men. This was the first step taken by the college in prepara­tion for war. Later when other groups were formed Depot Co. K still retained its identity as a sep­arate unit.

In the autumn of ’17 the Stu­dents’ Army Training Corps, better known as the S.A.T.C., was es­tablished in College Station. Orig­inally the purpose of the S.A.T.C. was to train enlisted army person­nel in specialized fields. Although these men were ordered here un­der the command of regular army

officers, their training was techni­cal rather than tactical. They were trained in the fields of auto mechanics, airplane mechanics, and the like.

By the close of the war the en­listed detachment of the S.A.T.C., which was called Section B, had reached a strength of about 3,600. They were housed in tne barracks buildings built especially for that purpose because the dormitories on the campus at that time were not sufficient.

Section A of the corps consist­ed of the regular student body of the college. To prevent their being drafted and to permit them to finish their schooling, all but about 200 of the students here at the time were inducted into the army at a mass ceremony. Their first assignment after induction was to remain in college until they had finished their education.

Regular college courses were modified somewhat to allow more

time for drill and languages and other subjects which might prove of use to men in the service. It was expected that upon graduation these cadets would qualify as of­ficers.

At the same time the army had a small group of men stationed at the college who were doing re­search in meteorology. All of these men were college graduates. In­structors for this group were ob­tained from the United States Weather Bureau and some nearby airports.

“The Good Ship Foster” was the home of about 100 dry land sail­ors who constituted the A. & M. Naval Unit. All naval cadets re­ceived technological training in mechanical and enginering fields and were to go to sea when they completed their training here. How­ever, the war ended with the de­feat of the central powers before any of these cadets were called into action.

17 Exes Named On War Casualty List

The War department has released information that up to the pres­ent date four Aggies have lost their lives in combat, and 13 others have been killed while on active duty since the beginning of hos­tilities.

Killed in the Philippines during the week of December 12, 1941, were three ex-Aggies. They were Second Lieut. Arthur E. Gray, San Marcos; Captain John A. E. Berg­strom, Austin; and Major Clarence R. Davis, Beaumont, Class of 1927.

As a result of a military acci­dent in the Canal Zone in which five officers lost their lives, Cap­tain Joseph J. Backloupe, Ennis, was killed.

In addition to the above Aggies, the following lost their lives while on active duty with the army: First Lieut. Maurice A. Morgan, ’39; First Lieut. John H. Morehead, ’37; Cadet John Clifford Knight, ’40; Second Lieut. John R. Harshey, ’41; Second Lieut. Barry C. Francks, Jr., ’41; Second Lieut. George P. Cook, Jr., ’33; Sgt. Rob­ert M. Baird, ’40; Elbert B. And- ing, ’26; Second Lieut. Augustus J. Allen, ’39; Second Lieut. Charles O. Watts; ’41; Second Lieut. Carol H. Thomas, ’38; Ensign Lee J. Shudde, ’38, and First Lieut. Addie J. Hogan, ’28.

Regimental Dances Other Big Affairs Are Still Scheduled

Planned Shake Up Would Change Dates of Events On Social Calendar, Drop SomeNo major a.ffairs will be drop­

ped from the original social calen­der as published previously in The Battalion, according to a state­ment made by Joe Skiles, director of student activities.

Because of yesterday’s propos­ed shake-up in the organization of the coming semester’s schedule, some of the affairs must be chang­ed to conform to the new school terms. The final ball will prob­ably be held on Friday, May 16, and the senior ring dance on Thurs­day, May 14. The junior prom will probably be held May 8. However, no major activities will be drop­ped, Skiles stated.

As many of the minor events as possible are to be observed with a minimum change in their sched­ules. Skiles said that the new or­ganization will not hinder any more of the social affairs than is abso­lutely necessary.

However, some of the smaller events will probably have to be postponed or canceled, Skiles sta­ted. All students are urged to con­tinue their present plans for these social occasions and to make them as successful as possible.

Federal Power Comm Offers Jobs To Engineering Grads

The Federal Power Commission of Fort Worth has openings for en­gineering graduates or other engi­neers who would be interested in employment with this agency.

The positions range in grade from engineering aide, paying $1800 a year, to senior engineer, paying $4600 a year. The applicant will have to meet the requirements of the Federal Power Commission as to his practical experience and technical qualifications and come up to the standards and require­ments of the Civil Service Com­mission before he can be appoint- ted.

Any one who believes he is qualified to meet these require­ments should report to the Dean of engineering in the administration building.

Navy Takes 9 Ags As Future Officers

Thirty-five Aggies have to date entered applications for admission to training schols for producing midshipmen in the Navy. Of these thirty-five, nine have completed their physical examinations.

The enlistment and medical ex­aminations are being given in Room 36, Ross hall. The recruit­ing will continue until tonight. Up­on completion of the examination, the recruits will go to naval schools at eithef Northwestern university or New York City. The new re­cruits will undergo a four months training course and will graduate to serve as deck officers with the fleet.

ME Students Win $100 in Prize Money

A pleasant aftermath of a fall inspection trip by the Mechanical Engineering Seniors is the receipt of $100.00 in prize money by three M. E. Seniors.

The Texas Steel Casting Com­pany offered this prize money for the best papers submitted on the subject of “What I Learned About Steel Castings at the Texas Elec­tric Steel Castings Company.” Sev­eral of the seniors competed for this money, but the prizes were limited to three. The first prize of $50.00 went to L. L. Manches­ter; the second price of $35.00 to W. E. Frost and the Third prize of $15.00 to Robert M. Bruce.

The prizes arrived during the Christmas holidays.

Directors Expected to 0 K Proposed Streandined Plan

College, $15,000,000 Plant, Too Valuable To Lie Idle Three Months of Year—Prexy

Three semesters per year, early completion of the re­maining semesters of this year, and the lack of final exam­inations as such loom for Aggies as a result of the nation’s war effort. In line with the trend for speeding up production, the college authorities are considering a plan which includes these features. “The plan would prevent the $15,000,000 college plant facilities from lying idle during the summer months, but would use them continuously in the production of trained men and army officers,” T. O. Walton, president of the college stated.

The Academic Council, compos-- ed of the deans and heads of de­partments of the college, met yes­terday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the administration building and passed the following recommendation. To become effective the recommenda­tion must also be adopted by the Board of Directors in their meeting here Saturday, January 10.

To the Board of Directors:The total war in which our

nation is now engaged has cre­ated an urgent demand that young men be trained both for certain essential indust­ries and as reserve officers as rapidly as possible. Both industry and the Army have requested the College to grad­uate the students as rapidly as possible. To meet this demand we recommend to the Board of Directors that the College re­organize its course on a basis of three semesters of 16 weeks each with one week of vaca­tion following each semester and one week for Christmas holidays, and that this plan be inaugurated at the close

* of the present semester.The average age of our en­

tering students is 17 Yz years. The plan will not only save one year in the preparation of young men for industry and for commissions in the army, but with reductions in the draft age to 20 it will enable these students who are to obtain ad­vanced course ROTC contracts to do so before they are sub­ject to call under the draft and will make it possible for most of those who do not have courses before they are called contracts to complete their courses before they are called or to be sufficiently advanc­ed in “necessary” courses to receive deferment until their completion.

To carry out the plan we

propose the following modifi­cations and additions to the college calendar:Close Present semester Janu­ary 22, 1942.Inaugurate the semester plan on the following schedule:III. January 26 to May 16, 1942, 16 weeks; vacation, 1 weekI. June 1 to September 19,1942, 16 weeks; Vacation, 1 week.II. September 28 to January 23, 1943, 16 weeks and 1 week Christmas; Vacation, 1 week.III. February 1 to May 22,1943, 16 weeks; Vacation, 1 week.I. May 31 to September 18, 1943, 16 weeks; Vacation, 1 week.II. September 27 to January 22, 1944, 16 weeks and 1 week Christmas.

F. C. Bolton Dean

If the plan is adopted by the Board of Directors Saturday, the speeded up plan will end this sem­ester of classes Thursday, Janu­ary 22. There will not be the cus­tomary three hour final examin-

(See NO FINALS, Page 4)

Bull Text Checks Ready for Payment

Military Science checks for Sen­iors and Juniors are now in the hands of the senior instructors for payment, Major A. J. Bennett, Adjutant, has announced.

All members of the advanced R.O.T.C. who signed promissory notes for tickets to the Cotton Bowl game are expected to make immediate payment to the Fiscal department.

Juniors received $14,319 at this time while Seniors received $12,- 623.25.

Navy Extends Air Corps Training To Include Sophomores in Class V 5

New Orleans, Jan. 7.—Launch­ing a drive to procure 2,500 avia­tion pilots each month for com­bat fliers in the aviation wing of the U. S. Navy, the Navy de­partment today extended enlist­ments in the Naval Reserve Avia­tion class to include sophomores in college and announced that all men enlisting as volunteers in Class V-5 will be eligible for active duty at the end of their current school year.

The enrollment of sophomores in college as potential candidates for commissions in the Naval Re­serve Aviation is the result of an effort by the Navy department to build up the pool of able-bodied young men to take the place of the thousands of young Naval pilots now passing through Naval Air Training stations for duty with the fleet.

Candidates for appointment as aviation cadets must:

(a) Be a male citizen of the United States for a period of at least ten years.

(b) Be not less than 20 years of age, and have not reached his 27th birthday at the time of enlistment as seaman, sec­ond class.

(c) Agree to remain on active duty four years, including period undergoing training as aviation cadet, unless sooner released by the Navy department.

(d) Be unmarried, must not pre­viously have been married, and must agree to remain unmarried until the expira­tion of two years from the date of entering upon active duty.

(e) Be educationalily, morally, physically and psychological­ly qualified.

College juniors and seniors, aft­er enlistment in Class V-5, may be deferred from call to active duty until completion of their cur­rent college year, if they so re­quest. Thereafter they will be as­signed to active training duty in the earliest class in which they can be accommodated.