CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS It is in the hope that many students in the universities of our country will take an interest in the many problems of a technical nature that are offered in the development of our plans for National Preparedness that this article is written. No other country in the world today has as excellent a plan for an army for National Defense as the United States of America. With a small
62
JOURNAL oa C R E ~ C AEDUCATION L
JANUARY, 1925
Standing Army, a National Guard, and a Reserve Oficers Corps closely interwoven and coordinating as a unit, we are fortunate in being able to translate ideals into practical performance. If there is one National trait that stands out clearly, it is the spirit of cooperation. The World War proved beyond a doubt that the American people would sacrifice themselves in almost any effort which would help the Government during the time of stress. At the present time we have no need for the heroic effort made during the days of the War; but there are many problems of a technical nature which have yet to be answered, and there are many minds capable of working out and solving these difficulties, which minds should be directed to this end. The technical research students in the many universities are peculiarly fitted to engage in the solving of many of these problems. Many a man would like to give a part of his time to the service of his country in time of peace, but does not know how his efforts can be used to advantage. This is particularly true of the student who is both able and willing to serve if his energies were properly directed. The War Department is confronted with more technical problems requiring careful research than they are able to develop with the thoroughness they would like. The universities have an army of men eager for work of a constructive nature and opportunity for research far beyond the present means a t the command of the War Department. It is suggested that the universities and colleges of the country give such of their research students as desire, the opportunity to do their thesis work on problems suggested by the War Department. Many universities are doing this very thing today and it is in the hope that others will follow that this suggestion is made.
