One of the greatest flurries of "letters to the editor" was occasioned by the alleged decision of the Overseers to erect a "neutral" war memorial to Harvard's war dead, on which names of men who died for their country, whatever their counry, would be engraved. A letter to the Crimson, reprinted from the New York World, terms the erection of such a monument "an insult to God," an enduring memorial "to the shame of Harvard and nothing else," because it would list the dead of both sides. The Alumni Bulletin of this period is full of such letters, pro and con. After America entered the war, of course, all thoughts of having a "neutral" memorial were abandoned; but it is interesting to note that there is now a plaque in Memorial Chunch, engraved in Latin, on which are several German names.
Intercollegiate Sports Called Off
Immediately upon the declaration of war, the Harvard Regiment was converted into a Reserve Officers' training camp. The Freshman dormitories were used a barracks, while administrative offices were lodged in the basement of University Hall. Dean Briggs stated on April 6, "Because of the declaration of war, the Harvard Committee on the Regulation of Athletic Sports has decided to give up all formal intercollegiate contests until further notice." The whole College was in an uproar, since no one knew exactly what was going to happen. By the end of May, enrollment in Harvard was down to 400, and dwindling fast. Finances, however, were not affected, since "men who have voluntarily given up their College work have already settled their tuition bills, and there is no rebate due them." Although there has been no official statement to that effect, the University actually made a profit from the war, since officials did not use up the funds provided by the government to run the miscellaneous military bureaus.
A tremendous drive was started by alumni to raise an endowment fund of ten million dollars, so as to take care of rising costs. Professor's salaries were raised to $7500, tuition might have to be upped from $150 to $200. More than half of the clubs in College shut down completely, though most of those which remain to this day were at least partially open for the duration. The Crimson just barely limped along, published twice a week by a staff of graduate editors who had move time than the officers in training.
The hundreds who were still in Cambridge, training in the Harvard camp, continued to live in the regular dormitories and to eat in the dining halls. The camp was not exclusively open to Harvard men, but numbered a great many members from other institutions. Most of the 400 remaining at their studies were either physically unfit, or under the draft age of 20. It was estimated that if the age were lowered to 19, there would be left no more than about 120 enrolled.
Many of the University buildings were turned over to the government for military use. The Dental School became a clinic; the Physchology Department gave tests for aviators and submarine operators; and members of the German Department translated papers found on enemy ships seized by the authorities. Members of the French Department, at the request of the War Department, spent the summer at West Point helping cadets become proficient in French conversation. A room in the Yard was reserved for those who wanted to speak French, with instructors and officers always present to cooperate.
Harvard Square pants prossers were bemoaning the fact that the war hit all their business. The Manhattan Market Co. use the Harvard seal as its trade mark, with VE RI TAS changed to PU RI TAS until the College objected.
Even the few students who remained at Harvard to study did not escape army supervision. Student Army Training Corps was established in August, 1918, when the draft age was lowered to 18. Eleven hours a week were devoted to direct military training, and the rest of the time was given over to allied academic subjects, determined by the Government. The SATC was the only channel whereby men could enter the officers' training corps. For those under 18, an SATC Jr. was set up, reducing even more the slim number who evaded the tutelage of the Army.
When the Armistice was signed in November things did not immediately return to normal. The SATC was continued for a short while, until a permanent peace seemed assured. But gradually the rolls began to fill again and Harvard once more took its place as essentially an educational institution.
King George V sent a personal letter to the University thanking all members and graduates for the "invaluable" aid which they had rendered to the Allies, in all branches of the service.
Final figures, compiled over a period of years, show that over 10,000 Harvard men served with the Allies in the Army; Navy, and Air Force, and 373 lost their lives. The names of the dead are posted in Memorial. Church, which, along with Memorial Hall and Soldiers Field, is a permanent monument to Harvard's war casualties