190 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I'l 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND 



TACTICS. 



The President, Michigan Agricultural College: 



Sir — I am enclosing report of Sergeant P. J. Cross, U. S. Army, con- 

 cerning period of training in the Military department, from the open- 

 ing of the college year 1915-16, to January 2G, 1916, the date of report 

 of present Commandant for duty at this College. 



At date of my report, the six freshman companies were drilling in 

 the Armory in two sections, three companies, on Monday and Tuesday, 

 three companies on Wednesday and Thursday. Satisfactory progress 

 had been made in close order, even in spite of the limited space for such 

 drill. All freshmen had one hour in theoretical work in classroom. 



During the winter term, sophomores and juniors, were in theoretical 

 instruction under senior instructors in classroom. Moss's Manual of 

 Military Training, was used in this work. 



During the spring term, all work was out of doors. This included 

 close order work and ceremonies, such as parades, reviews, guard mount- 

 ing etc. 



The other practical work included outposts, advance and rear guards, 

 also flank guards, marches and calisthenics. 



The drill season closed with a field day on Decoration Day. This 

 event was considered very successful and created satisfactory interest 

 in the cadet regiment. Company "A," a junior company, under Cadet 

 Captain E. W. Martin, won the competition ; Company ''K," under Cadet 

 Captain F. A. Carlson, was second and Company "C," under Cadet Cap- 

 tain L. H. Cork, was third. 



The competition included wall scaling, tug of war, company drills, 

 manual of arms drill and company shooting. The wall scaling contests 

 were especially interesting to spectators, and instructive to contestants. 



The college year was completed June 13th, with a review of the 

 corps of cadets by the commandant accompanied by Capt. Wells and 

 Capt. Ragsdale, U. S. A. The regiment was paraded then by the Cadet 

 Colonel C. N. Winston. 



An innovation was tried out this spring term. Drill hour was changed 

 from 4 :.30 to 5 :30 p. m., to 7 to 8 a. m. The change was not considered 

 very satisfactory and the drill hour will be as heretofore 4:30 to 5:30 

 p. m. 



The greater part of the cadet officers were very satisfactory. The 

 senior officers were chosen from the senior class by examinations, both 

 theoretical and practical. 



The new officers for 1916-17 were chosen in a similar manner, 

 and it is believed that an exceptionally efficient selection has been made. 

 Upon acceptance of the officers for the coming year it was announced by 

 the Commandant that no one was wanted who was working for credits 



