100 years ago in Spokane: Gonzaga ‘cadets’ to receive military training

Gonzaga University was planning to become, in effect, a military school during the next year.

All of the students between 18 and 25 would be given military training by the government, and “all cadets wil have the standing of enlisted men in the United States Army, and will be subject to the call of the government at any time.”

Students who “finish the school this year will be urged to return to the school for military training instead of enlisting in the regular army.”

The arrangement was made after negotiations with the U.S. Secretary of War. Other colleges in the West “are to be treated in like manner.”

This plan would not come to full fruition, since the war in Europe would not last the year.

From the missing persons beat: Ada Loftin, 14, was found in the company of Chester Russell, 25, in Iron Mountain. Mont., after a long search by authorities.

Russell was arrested and charged with kidnapping.

The girl’s father said he “believed my daughter was forced to accompany this man through fear.”

He said that Russell had been paying unwanted attention to the girl while she was walking to and from Sunday School. The father said he remonstrated with him, to no avail. The girl disappeared with him some time later.