The Wilmingtonian., 1886-05-15
SATURDAY MAY Is, 1856.
oaicers, Soldiers, ships and Fortresses

Officers, Soldiers, ships and Fortresses.
Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama, chairman of the
committee on West Point Military Academy
argued strongly last Saturday on the floor of
the House for an amelioriation in the rigid
ity of the requirements for graduation from
West Point Academy.
Mr.. Wheeler's reasons may be bulked to-
gether in one point, namely, the need in the
regular army off greater number of scientifi-
cally educated officers. a
This question was very closely discussed
by members from various states of the
Union.
The significant point that great numbers
of those disqualified from graduation, and
also many of those thrown out during their
second and third years were retired, not for
spesifc, but for relative disqualification in
their studies was made.
A limited number, only, must be graduated
each year from either West Point or Anna
polls. The number of students in both
schools is far in excess of that limit The
graduating curriculum has therefore been
raised to such high grade of scholarship
that large numbers of excelently qualified
young men are yearly thrown out, fully fifty
per cent of them after serving 90 or "a
months in the schools,
1t is right, there being no alternative, that
those who score highest in the graduation
examinations receive diplomas, but when
that number is restricted TO such small
limit and to the necessity Of such close
markings it looks as if there is something to
be criticized in the direction of entrance ex.
amnations.
The ''culling out would perhaps be more
judicious at the aforementioned stage than
at that stage when the young men have been
wasting their technical efforts, as the middle
year examinations show, in twenty or TWEEN
ty-four months close study, expending gov
ernment money and their own time during
those long periods
1t is demonstrated that many of the dis
qualified students are actually well qualified
for the positions which the graduation code
at West Point at present is compelled to con
slider them unfit fol-simply becase there arr
not sufficient army berths to meet all.
Mr.. Wheeler's proposition is that this ex
treme rigidity be modified.
AS chairman OF the committee on Yves
Point Academy he takes up the text, ''il
time Of peace prepare for war" He claim
that our army is under-ofiicered. THAI
though we may not at present be in DANCE
of foreign invasion, the possibilities of j
exist. That because we have been for
long period at peace with the world that i
no guarantee that that condition will con
tinue. We need for the contingency suffi
cent supply of technically educated militar,
officers.
He used as an argument our experienc
during the late war with the South. Tn
general criticism is that with some few ex
ceptions it took two or three years of mill
tary experience before the general mass Q
officers in the northern army attained au
value as military men and throughout tha
period the North was losing ground. Ha
there been a sufiiciency of material to fill tn
military commands the probability is tina
the war of the rebellion would have bee
terminated earlier Officers scientifcal
taught were needed from West Point an
Annapolis in all the minor commands in al
our forts and ships and fortresses.
The standard of graduation is so high a
West Point Military Academy and Anna
polls Naval School that large quantity a
eligible material is annually thrown ava
which in the contingency of foreign war O
any dimensions would be of incalculabe va
lne but definitely unobtainable, all thes
these young men disqualified just on tn
brink of qualification having returned to 4
vii pursuits and became entirely divorce,
from their former military aflinities.