NATURE 



223 



1 THURSDAY, OCTOBER a8, 1915. 



IHE UNIVERSITIES AND WAR ECONOMY. 

 MUCH anxiety has been caused in the educa- 

 tional world by the circular of date July 

 8 from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury 

 those universities and similar institutions in 

 ireat Britain which are in receipt of Government 

 rants. In consequence partly of this circular, 

 ad partly of the general need for economy in the 

 xpenditure of public funds, a letter of date 

 .ugust 26 has been addressed to the joint secre- 

 aries of the Committee on Public Retrenchment 

 the Vice-Chancellors of the four northern uni- 

 ersities (Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and 

 heffield). 



The danger which threatens our universities is 

 e more imminent because the Treasury circular 

 ppears to take a quite reasonable view^ of the 

 ituation. In consequence of the loss of students 

 ue to their enlistment, the colleges have suffered 

 :om a serious reduction both in the size of the 

 ses and in the income received from fees. To 

 pensate for the latter loss special supple- 

 ntary grants were given to them last year. It 

 pointed out by the Treasury authorities that 

 these special grants are to be continued through- 

 the war, however prolonged, and all the in- 

 utions so aided are to be allowed to remain 

 n, however low the attendance of students may 

 the burden on public funds — which would in- 

 se progressively as young men continue to 

 ist — might prove ultimately to be very great 

 out of all proportion to the educational bene- 

 conferred on the community. Acting on this 

 umption, the circular foreshadows a possible 

 considerable reduction in the amount which 

 liament is to be asked to vote in the future, 

 is suggested that savings might be effected not 

 by leaving all vacancies unfilled (we under- 

 that the University of London is to remain 

 ut a Principal on this account), but also by 

 rary suspension of institutions, classes, de- 

 ents, or hostels where the attendance falls 

 a certain level, the staff thus released being 

 ided with suitably remunerated work of some 

 kind more directly useful in the present 

 ency. The colleges are also asked to 

 it an estimate of their probable expenditure 

 revenue, and to point out the directions in 

 they are able to effect further savings, 

 e efficiency of universities could be measured 

 e number of students that they turn out, 

 might be a valid justification for the opinions 

 NO. 2400, VOL. 96] 



expressed in the Treasury circular. But the war 

 by which Germany now seeks to cripple Great 

 Britain, and the successful war which Germany 

 has been waging against our commerce for the last 

 quarter of a century without opposition, have 

 placed on our Universities a burden of national 

 responsibility which cannot be measured by mere 

 numbers of students. There has probably been 

 no period in the history of our country when so 

 great a demand existed for enterprise and activity 

 in our universities as during the present national 

 crisis. 



The letter of the northern universities affords 

 a conclusive reply to the Treasury circular. It is 

 accompanied by a statement of the active work 

 which the colleges have undertaken in connection 

 with the war. This statement is of a confidential 

 character, but it may here be safely stated without 

 any risk of assisting the enemy that it includes 

 practically every branch of pure and applied 

 science. In addition statistics are given as to the 

 numbers of staff and students serving with the 

 colours or engaged in munition work. 



It used to be said that England's battles were 

 won on the playgrounds of the great public 

 schools, and it is still true that these are largely 

 responsible for the magnificent performance of 

 our men in the trenches. But it is equally true 

 that Germany's war against the allied European 

 Powers has been waged in the laboratories of the 

 German universities. It is now being recognised 

 that this is a war of brains and science. It is 

 sufficiently unfortunate if the supply of scienti- 

 fically trained students be reduced at the present 

 juncture, but it will be still more unfortunate if a 

 check is placed on their future activities, which 

 would probably have a permanent and cumulative 

 effect on our national development. If England 

 is to win this war, England must also be prepared 

 to maintain a struggle for power, which will 

 certainly not cease with the conclusion of hos- 

 tilities. We have heard much talk about " silver 

 bullets," but Germany's silver bullets have to a 

 large extent been supplied by Great Britain in 

 exchange for chemical and optical goods and 

 dyestuffs. 



The contingents of the Officers Training Corps 

 of the northern universities have already con- 

 tributed more than 1000 officers to the Forces, 

 and similar contingents have been furnished by 

 other modern universities. It has been abundantly 

 shown bv the statements received from past 

 students that they have found their university 

 training of the greatest possible value in the field. 

 There can be no better preparation for the 



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