New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-29
FnrCATING TIE SOLDIER.

now ARMY OFFICERS COULD INSTRUCT TIE SOL
pIEPs-A SYSTEM or PROMOTION That MIGHT
BE ADOPTED-BENEFiT or SUCH POLICY
TO the Edttor Of The tribune.
SIR: Last year our army Of $4,000 men cost
US 1857 10 Each soldier, therefore, costs ms At
least 81 900 d year. What do for tisl We get
Thousands Of ablcbJdied men, scattered all over the
country, vino go through their short dru ana then
lounge about the os of the day. resisting as far as they
can officers well men, the various temptations 10
drinking gambling and debaucheTy that necessarily b.
,et n 4 oilers In PARIS YOU ang day, o file Of
soldiers marching with states under hcr arms, going 10
the regmen.al school II the time OF French soldiers
can he thus utilized why cannot that of ours Onr OIL
GERS well taught West Point, have no opportunity to
revise their studies; soldiers have 10 chance to
learn. and insist that they shall lounge away their
time together at the of at least $1,000 per
year for each OF them Must thi. 20 oni
Many OF our young in civil life, when they leave
college 60 work al teaching Their bread and
butter while they study profession and TINS en-
forced revision OF their studies, not as STUDENTS
but as teachers, cOrdeuscs and compacts for them
their previous knowledge, rendering it IN every way
available while numbers OF scholars profit by their
Instruction. Gen Mitchell took three evenings IN oach
his general officers, requiring them the
othcc evenings 20 teach those Immediately below Them
and through az grades thus making his brigade
large military school II nc could do this In The face oi
enemy, cannot other Ofccfs do the same ia The
yersive OF all discipline" How that he, when
the same thing is constantly done at West Point
Officers VI the army are appointed as proeesors ana even
capable cadets are constantly detailed a. Cadetm-
stnctorz whenever and wherever needed, and with en-
tire success that there occasion iol any anety
Oh that score Desirable young n' might De mist" "
serve FOR gears from eighteen 90 twenty-five, pass
Ing just such examination Is Il required Tor entrance
o. West Point which certainly demand. Illc enough
and these army cadets might gradually disp!ace our
present soldiers each receiving two hours iustrgc
10 tsflI4
D. nearly possible just az he himself was Taught.
Whenever the eXigcnci,t OF tue service mleeitd the
army cadet might receive his iul complement Of IN
strneton Eech inspector ol post Would .. coiisc m
ton at that post. Thus officers and world be- pleas
antly. prohtably, honorably employed proving that
Peace hath her Victories no LEES ihan var" Officials
boast this year that the desotions from the army ~
$4,000 only 2lOO, against 2j2l last yc;, hut
this Is still eight per cent The army cOnyCts last
year cost us $4,000 and We are 10 have. besides
a new military prison whose estimated cos' s
100000. Americans should have Of these things
Let ms make our army SO far rs We cam great lnly
educational establishment, ana young men oI we Tltt
stamp will hock 10 the examinations Our officers, in
place Of (as Il generals expressed ~ letting
Their brains osslfy IN onecomais posi- on the IRON
tier" will have an opportunity for wholesome revision
OF their own studies, and te pIOhtabt Oh
ever uhoe' uied man. lheee army eau eau - N", ,
become eligible 40 nOncOminlssOhcG Oinctis, ana ny d
gradual change whole rank ana file might De- qucty
ana ehectnauy transformed from mere We4iiii. Sol
oilers INTO ambitious and wcl-eduCdted men, VINO n case
OF war could take their places as capable Officers,
Su SHpa"Ie OnlceIs very soon maze em,lLut ~ ~.
One OF The greatest difficulties In our last war was that
their men crowded hospitals, and died II scores,
ubder The orders OF those who did not even know how
properly 20 police camp AT the eud u four years
service and Instruction these army cadets might be sub
9ected to rgd examination. and such rs passed with
saIleientiy high grade might he appointed noncOmms
hOnea officers. At the end Of three years more, which
would close their years OF service another exam
lnaton might be held and those who took the highest
talk u ihs might, they ehOSe to remain IA The army
" appointed as officers In the proportion OF onehir
@ saving two thirds 10 those educated at West Point
anose who did not choose " remain would, to the
seOer OF about 5000 every year. pass INTO civil no
h an education that would enable them TO ald IN the
'mophent Of resources either rs civil engineers or
n.sng ehelenty many business positions tDIOuRhout
- Snvnetly thus giving us something IN return Tor The
ea,voo spent on each; and f-whch God forbid-an-
sel val eVet should break Out there would DO sI
spaDie officers 10 train our volunteers and render