IN the competitive drill last year the companies placed in the following order:
   1st--Company C   5th--Company M
   2d--Company I    6th--Company K
   3d--Company A   7th--Company B
   4th--Company D

The judges were Captains W. L. Clarke and A. T. Clifton, from the signal corps U. S. Army stationed at Fort Omaha. They made the following comment: "The ability of the cadets to drill is developed to a very high degree. Everything connected with the military department is very excellent."

   LAST year the Military Department was inspected by Captain Benjamin T. Simmons of the General Staff U. S. Army. The inspection lasted all one afternoon and consisted of Butt's Manual by one company, bayonet exercise by another, guard mount, and regimental review, followed by regimental inspection.
   After the inspection, Captain Simmons had the following comment to make: "The cadet regiment as a whole is very

excellent. The appearance of the cadets is very excellent. Military spirit has been developed to a great extent." Going on further he said: "All cadets on graduation are competent to take a commission as second lieutenant in a volunteer regiment. The uniforms are neat and well-fitting and the cadet officers impress me very favorably."
   Such a high compliment as this speaks very well for Commandant Yates and the entire cadet organization.

   THE military instruction at Nebraska covers a broad field, and is so constructed as to give the cadet a general conception of all the elements in drill, maneuvers, and a field campaign. The firstyear cadets drill all year with equipment, going into all company movements, skirmish work, battalion drill, and battalion and regimental ceremonies. The second-year cadets act as drill masters at the first of the year, then go into class for the study of the drill regulations, the field regulations, service problems and occasional lectures on more general subjects, after which they act as drill masters under the eye of the commandant and staff officers, receiving appointments based upon their work through the entire course. The cadet officers have a class for a short time in which they study the principles of tactics and apply them to specific problems. Of course so broad a system prevents the

attainment of a high degree of excellence in any one branch. The Nebraska cadet band is recognized as one of the finest in the country. They play for all ceremonies, for Butt's Manual, and also give public concerts. At the close of each year a competitive drill is held for companies, which, though in itself largely determined by the Goddess Chance, is yet a great factor in promoting interest in drill. A camp of five days completes the course, an experience which would be of great value to volunteer officers. The department is inspected each year by the government, which donates $40,000 a year in consideration for the maintenance of the provision requiring drill. A military ball is also given annually, and is one of the most popular dances of the year. All told, counting the regiment at the University Farm, there are something like 900 men in the University army.

   FOUNDED in 1875, the Military Department has steadily increased, not only in numbers, but also in its importance in the training of students for life work. Its commandants have numbered strong men, whose lives have been an inspiration to all who came under their influence. Nebraska will not forget the scholarly gentleman, Edgar S. Dudley; the soldierly John J. Pershing; or the gallant hero, John M. Stotsenburg. That the lessons taught were well learned was shown by the records of Nebraska graduates in the Spanish-American War. But more important is the fact that this department has been a potent factor in the formation of the characters of the graduates; those men who are destined to be the leaders in this great state. Where once there

was a company, there has grown to be a regiment; and yet it is not the numbers, but the spirit that counts. It is believed that the spirit of the corps is such that it will animate its members to do their full duty by their country, whether in peace or in war.
   In leaving Nebraska, after a very pleasant three years, it is unnecessary to state that the cadets will always have a warm place in my heart. May the corps continue to increase in usefulness to its members and to the state is the last wish of

Your friend,
H. E. YATES,
Commandant of Cadets.