DE>PARTMENT REPORTS. 121 



A cavalry unit was also started at the opening of school. Capt. V. K. 

 Bell was in command. Thirty horses, two mules and an escort wagon 

 together with necessary saddle equipment, repair tools, sabers etc. are on 

 hand. Capt. Bell was relieved from duty as he was not in the best of 

 liealtli and unable to carry on the ratlier heavy duties of liis j)osition, and 

 Major Elliott was sent liere about April 1st. Enlisted men care for tlie 

 horses and for the stable and barracks allotted to our use at the Con- 

 stabulary grounds. We hoj^e that the presence of a cavalry unit will 

 act as a stimulus for agricultural students to enter the veterinary course 

 and perhaps to become interested in horse breeding. 



With the exception of Capt. Bell, the services of all officers and men 

 detailed here have been most satisfactory. The students have taken 

 a much larger interest in the work of the department than ever be- 

 fore. The department expanded in two ways: Last winter it offered a 

 course in rifle fire to the girls (under direct charge of Miss Grimes) and 

 organized a club of lady faculty and one of male faculty in gallery prac- 

 tice. Several other clubs were organized and more than 200 enrolled, 

 including girls, faculty and men students. 



The annual inspection was held June 1st and 2nd. In the opinion of 

 the department staff and all ])resent competent to judge, the students 

 acquitted themselves in sjilendid style. To my knowledge, every ques- 

 tion was answered promptly and correctly and quite a good deal of 

 praise for our high morale was given by the senior inspector at one of 

 the dinners given for him. Steps should be taken by the college autho- 

 rities to secure a three day inspection as the two days granted was 

 entire insufficient for the purpose. 



Steps should also be taken to insure that the P. M. S. T. be retained 

 here during the summers. Supplies must be requisitioned, property 

 taken in and inspected, sorted out and made ready for fall. Correspond- 

 ence must be cared for, reports rendered, both to the War Department, 

 and to the President, conferences with the President and deans must be 

 held and if the P. M. S. T. is taken away while the school is in session 

 in the summer and if the college authorities take thbir own vacafions 

 after the summer session closes, the P. M. S. T. may be out of direct 

 touch with the authorities for a matter of two to three months. 



I also wish to recommend most strongly fhat steps be taken to secure 

 an adequate building for the Military deparfment. With the installaiiou 

 of these two new units, larger facilities are urgently needed. Wifh the 

 growth of the college enrollment, approaching pre-war strengtli, the 

 armory cannot accommodate the numbers. Small classes wherein renl 

 military instruction can be given, are impossible. Groups of more than 

 r;0 sfudents at a time do not receive proper teaching. The day of hav- 

 ing all clrsses at one hour is of the past and the K. O. T. C. plans, 

 ''make every cadet a possible futnre officer in time of war," cannot be 

 carried out unless adequate facilities are provided. During the past 

 winter there was but one vacant hour on the drill floor from Monday 

 morning at 8 until Saturday at noon, counting the day from eight unfil 

 six. And the evenings were taken two or three each week for rifle club 

 work and every Friday and Saturday nights for social purposes. 



Respectfully submitted. 



P. G. WRIGHTSON, 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1 920. Major U. S. A. 



