496 



MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



[Vol. XV, 



In this figure the dotted lines representing the medians of the various camps are of impor- 

 tance as indicating the degree of variability from camp to camp, and accordingly the extent 

 to which the combined data correctly represent the separate camps. Reference to the graph 

 shows that the variation among the camps in absolute values of the medians for the various 

 branches is large, the most constant element of variability being introduced by the low scores 

 characteristic of Camp Lee. An extreme instance appears in case of the Field Artillery, where 

 the medians vary from 106 for Lee to 179 for Dix. The Sanitary Train shows the most 

 consistent results for the four camps. 



Not only do the camps vary with respect to the absolute scores for given branches, but 

 they differ also to some extent with respect to the relative standing of the various branches, 

 and very markedly with reference to the degree of difference between branches. The order 

 of excellence, as indicated by the median scores, is as follows for each camp separately, and 

 for the combination based on averages of percentages from all four camps: 



Branch. 



Rank order for— 



Devens. 



Lee. 



Taylor. 



Allfour 

 camps. 



Field Signal Battalion . . 



Sanitary Train 



Engineers 



Field Artillery 



Infantry 



Machine Gun Battalions 



1 

 2 



3.5 

 3.5 



5 



In many cases differences are far too slight to have any significance, consisting sometimes 

 of only one or two points. The chief bearing of the above table in connection with figure 4 

 is to emphasize the necessary points of caution to be exercised in connection with the inter- 

 pretation of apparent differences. We may note the following points: The Field Signal Bat- 

 talion and the Sanitary Train stand out conspicuously as superior to the other branches, 

 whether the combination of all camps or the individual camps are under consideration. Of 

 the two the former appears distinctly as the superior. No other distinction shows as high a 

 degree of certainty. The suggestion of the data is that the Engineers and Field Artillery tend 

 to be superior to the Infantry and Machine Gun groups, though distinction between the two 

 members of either pair can not safely be made. In spite of the relative superiority indicated 

 in favor of the Engineers and Field Artillery, it may be noted that the Engineers drop to fifth 

 place for one camp and the Field Artillery to sixth in another— shifts which have their com- 

 plement in the fact that Infantry shifts to fourth place for one and Machine Gun to third 

 place for the other of these camps. The status of the Ammunition Train and the Supply Train 

 can not be discussed profitably, since data on these were not furnished from all camps, and 

 the information is therefore even less satisfactory than that for the other branches. 



The main point which these data emphasize is the fact that the branches of the service as 

 examined in the fall show relatively slight differences, with the exception of the Field Signal 

 Battalion and the Sanitary Train, which stand out clearly from the rest. The remaining 

 differences are so small, and so influenced by the variability among the camps, that no stress 

 can be laid on the trend indicated. Reference to the following section will show that much 

 greater differences than these appear at times between regiments in any given branch of 

 service or between companies in any given regiment. 



It will be remembered that attention has been called to the necessity of caution in inter- 

 preting differences between military groups made up from the unknown draft elements and on 

 the relatively slight military experience available in the fall to determine assignments. It has 

 been noted further that there was opportunity for much shaking down and readjustment 

 within branches and organizations before divisions were actually sent overseas. Of differences 

 between branches of the divisions under consideration, as these were made up at the time of 

 embarkation, we have no knowledge. 



