Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
ROAD TO sRouLpsa STRAPS.
How the Recruit May FIR Himself 10 Become
Second Lieutenant.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.--The new regu-
ations for The examination of enlisted men
who aspire TO commissions in the army are
of interest in various ways.
The new law declares that all unmarried
soldiers under so years of age, who are cit
liens of the United States, are physically
sound, have served honorably not less than
two years in the army, and have borne q
good moral character, may compete, The
examining boards are 10 be sworn to Ills
charge their duties honestly and faithfully
and may examine witnesses and take depo
si,ions.
Any man who passes the final examina-
ton Is 10 receive certificate of eligibility,
setting forth its groru,is and the subjects in
which lie is proficient The holder may
lo.e its benefits by sentence of court mar
,ial, hp, he is not to be tried before garri-
son. regimental or summary court. A
competitor who fails may try again, but he
can only try twice, and vacancies in the
grade of second lieutenant are to be filed
in the order OF merit.
Nine elements arc combined IN the eS-
animation, and these are as follows;
|. English grammar, including ortho-
graphy. reading and writing from oral die.
taiion.
.. Mathematics, Including arithmetic,
ALGEBRA. To include the solution of equa-
tons of the first degree, containing one I'M
known quantity, the use of ogarihms, the
elrmcnts of plane geometry, plane trigono-
metry and surveying,
.. Geography, particularly in reference
to the United States and Moth .imerica.
|. The outlines of general history, aud
particularly the history of TIE United
States.
5. The constitution of the United States
and the organization of the government
under it, and the elements of International
law.
g. Army regulations and the drill regu
lations of the arm from which he il selected.
The examination in drill regulations will be
practical, extending through the schools of
the soldier, squad and platoon, and shall
take place on the parade ground in the
presence of the board.
7. The military record of the candidates
as certified to by their company, post ami
regimental commanders.
5. Physi aptitude, as determined by
the medical examination; proficiency in
athletics, skill in field sports. etc.
8. Moral character and civil record, as
These nine subjects have different rcla-
tive weights. Mathematics, drill rcguia-
tons, etc, and moral character count 200
each, while grammar, geography. history
constitutional law. military record, and
physique count only 100 each This dis
elimination in favor of the three former
points seems judicious, but of course all
such systems of marking are somewhat
arbitrary.
If potential Marshal SAKE exists in our
army We do not want to bar him out of .
commission for faults in photography. II
is worth noting that general book learning
makes up Just half the aggregate weight
while moral, physical and military charac-
ter and ap,itudcs complete the other half.
There to be two examinations, as now,
one being in the department to which the
candidate belongs. while the other is the
competitive and final examination at Fort
Leayenworth. Each board viii consist of
five officers, including two medical officers
for the physical examination, which Ii
rigid In the final, or competitive exam
iuation, an elaborate rule is adopted for
computing the general average of the can
didate.
MARK each question according to its
relative weight, ana reduce the ag2tcRatt VI
marks thus obtained in each subject to a
scale of 100. The result will give the av-
erage of proficiency in the subject Null
tiply the average IN each subject by the
number indicating the relative weight of the
subject. and divide the sum Of the products
by the sum of the relative weights-the
quotent viii be the general average"
With this rule, the appended example to
show how it works will be appreciated by
examiners No candidate will be passed
without an aversgc of 65 per cent. in each
subject and a general average of 20 per
cent. Perhaps larger difference between
the special and the general average might
be able to save more Marshal Saxes for US
The unfortunate part of the system Is
that the successful candidates will not be
sure of promotion. Vacancies may rot cx-
list for all of them: and, since it will not do
to have the unpromoted accumulate, so as
10 block the way for others in succeeding
years, those who arc not commissioned VIII
have to compete again it would appear, in
the following final or Fort Leavcnwortb
examination, with the next set of candi-
dates. However, on once passing the final
soldiers are TO have, AS an honor, thc title
of candidate" prefxed to that of their
rank on the rolls, returns, orders and cor
responAence.