Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-12
WEST POINT FAULTY.
The Board of Visitors Find Many
Things There to Criticise.
POOR INSTRUCTION FOR CADETS.
Obsolete Armament in Use for Learning the
Art of Warfare.
A PAINFUL DEFICIENCY IN ENGLISH

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE Secretary
of War has received the report of the Board
of Visitors to the Mill iary Academy at
West Point, through Major John NJ. Car
son, of this city, member of the board,
and its Secretary, by whom the document
was prepared. This report is very elab-
crate and comprehensive paper, covering
upward of 100 printed pages and treating
the subjects discussed in a novel and strik-
ing manner.
The first question considered by the
board was whether or not the strength of
the corps of cadets as now established
should be increased. The board agreed to
recommend the passage of an act fixing the
strength of the corps of cadets at maximum
of 469. The board recommends that in ad-
dition to the present allotment of one cadet
to each Representative and delegate in Con-
gress, two cadets be allowed to each State
at large, to be nominated by the Senators
respectively, and that the President be
authorized to nominate from the country at
large, 90. The board calls attention to the
inefficiency of the present preliminary ex-
aminations, as shown by the failure to
graduate more than 80 per cent of the cadets
admitted
TWO SYSTEMS COMPARED.
As showing the merit of the competitive
system of selecting candidates for appoint
ment, the board presents tables to show that
under the competitive system Sc per cent
graduated and A per cent failed to gradu-
ate, while of those appointed direct only 42
per cent graduated and 5S per cent failed.
The board strongly condemns the practice
of filling the professorships at the academy
entirely with army officers. The deficiency
in English is painfully apparent at the
Academy, and it is urgently recommended
that more attention be given to the sub
iect. In this connection, the board also
says very pointedly:
None of the instructors in the depart
ment of modern languages have a speaking
knowledge of either French or Spanish, the
two modern languages taught at the
academy. The ability to speak these Ian
guages does not seem to be regarded as es-
sential in instructors at West Point
NO KNOWLEDGE OF HORSES.
The board says: 'fWhile the corps of ca
dets is thoroughly instructed in all field
movements. certain details are omitted
from the school of instruction, to which we
respectfully direct the attention of the
proper authorities. In the school of the
soldier, mounted, the cadet receives no in
struction in the care of horses. He never
sees horse groomed, and knows nothing
about saddling and bridling, unless he OBJ
tanned such information before entering the
academy. 1t seems to the board that in
struction on these points is essential"
Again the board directs attention to the
utter lack of proper arms and equipment
for field exercises, and particularly to the
aa6 fnr oA6n ayIr Iax
the failures of former appeals, the board
says: "Until the Government can supply
the academy with modern guns to take the
place of antiquities now in position in the
sea coast and siege batteries, we recommend
that these two worse than useless batteries
be dismantled, and that wooden guns
fashioned after the latest approved models
and furnished with modern carriages and
cranes, be mounted in their stead"
IT WOULD AVERT RIDICULE.
Such a course would not only avert the
ridicule to which the United States is now
Justly subjected by maintaining obsolete
armament in these two batteries for the in
struction of future officers of its army, but
it would furnish evidence that our military
men are cognizant of the fact that progress
has been made in the fabrication of great
guns, and they fully appreciate the impor-
tance and value of the improvements In
addition to this, wooden models of modern
fashion would at least give the cadets an
idea of the kind of guns likely to be used
in warfare, and of the methods employed in
serving them.
The members of the board are Senators
Manderson and Pugh; Representatives Bur-
rows, of Michigan; Scranton, of Pennsyl-
vania and Lauham. of Texas; in addition
to the following named gentlemen ap-
pointed by the President; The Rev. Frank
A O'Brien, Kalamazoo, Mich: Colonel J.
T. Murfee, Marion, Ala; Hon. James A.
Waymiere, San Francisco; Major John NJ.
Carson, Washington, D. c.; Mr.. David W.
Payne, Elmira, n. Y; General T. S. Peck,
Burlington, Vt, and Hon. Robert o. Fuller,
Cambridge, Mass.