A.S.T.P. + R.

All over the U.S. last week alumni of beloved little colleges were greatly concerned. Reason: the drastic curtailment of the Army Specialized Training Program. Typically troubled were these:

P: Hamilton: soon there may be only 30 civilian students in the college (capacity: about 450) at Clinton, N.Y.

P: Kenyon: when 350 soldiers leave for active duty, there will be only 74 civilian students on the campus at Gambier, Ohio.

Student Reserve. To relieve such collegiate worries, the American Council on Education drew up plans; their main idea also occurred to General George Marshall. Late last week the Army acted. Very shortly the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program for 17-year-old civilian high-school graduates will expand quickly from 5,000 to 25,000 boys. To satisfy the Army's need for college-trained specialists, the number may later rise to 100,000. With an R. of that size, few colleges would miss A.S.T.P. very much.

On March 15, many of the country's 200,000 high-and prep-school seniors will take an A.S.T.R.P. qualifying test in their schools.* Passers may get a couple of civilian college terms, as enlisted reservists at Government expense. Said President Roosevelt: "It is of the greatest importance . . . that as many as possible take the March 15 examination."

*Candidates for the Navy V12 program, which continues at full strength as a campus officer-producing program, will take the same test.

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