The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-13
TIE VEST POINT Ets1roRs.
some or Their Recorlnen dnttop.-A Pr
posed Increase In the Number OF Cadets.

| Some or Their ,nendntiop.-A Pro-
| posed Increase In the Number OF Cadets.
WASHINGTON Aug. ia noteworthy sug-
gestton in the recently published report Of the
| West Point Board OF Visitors is that each year
| two or moro members OF the previous Board Of
Visitors shall DO reappointed. 1t has all along
been evident that in the lack OF such An ar
rangement for n comparison between two suc-
cessive years. the question OF Improvement or
deterioration cannot be very exactly judged by
the official visitors Each Board can give an
opinion as TO tho absolute condition OF the
Military Academy. but 1t cannot very precisely
mark the progress or retrograde OF the twelve
month. or perhaps tell what uso has been
made OF suggestions OF tie previous Board.
A reappointment would also give the Board
ono or two members whose experience VI
what IN ust be done during the period reported
on could guide the others and enable them to
lay out their time to the best advantage.
1t would doubtless he we'll. as the Board rec
ommends, that professors and instructors
should have an opportunity to visit other in
stitutions OF learning. and examine their
methods and appliances. OF the many other
recon- IN ndations. perhaps especial note
hould be made OF those relating to ordinances
and artillery. This department OF instruction
is certainly important enough to command. in
such an institution, the services OF a full pro-
fessor. and there should also be. at no distant
day. a supply at the Academy OF heavy ord
nance OF the best modern types The proposed
furnishing OF models OF the latest improve
ments in ordnance Is q suggestion In the same
useful direction.
Our recommendation. which perhaps may
provoke a difference Of opinion. is that the
number OF the cadets should be increased.
The ground AIKEN is that the Academy should .
be required to educate as many young men as
its capacity will justify. Any policy which
fails to secure to the nation the full benefit OF
the institution in the education or training OF
There is very little doubt that an increase in
the nun Der OF cadets might be made without
lnereasing the present Gnrps oil inStrT , sIs
accommodate more pupil But 40 far as the
expense goes. the actual cost OF instruction Is
n matter of less Importance than the mainte.
nance of the cadets. and OF course this would
be an additional expense to the full extent OF
That, too. is not the only consideration.
With the army organized as it now is. the June
sioning as Second I.ieutenants Of those en-
listed men who pass the required exam nations
g%,s ,Is to sreGs 81 tha the
present a lew vacancies exist In the infantry.
because so many additional Second Lieuten-
assigned to the other arms and to the engi-
neers: but it remains true that the graduates |
vacancies. Might not an increase of cadets |
impair the prospects OF those recommended |
for promotion from the ranks Of getting |
Second i.ieutenants should to enlarged
1t would be- possible. Of course. with larger |
classes at Vest Point, to discharge honorably. |
for entrance upon civi life. the surplus cadets !
OF each graduating class; Indeed. the argu-
that it is wise for tho Government to educate
officers who on any sudden emergency. can
be called into the service from civil life. into |
which they may have entered. When the civil
war broke out some OF the most famous OF our
officers were thus recalled and put in COM
mand OF volunteers. after having left the
army in the dull times of peace that succeeded
the campaigns In Mexico. Besides /. Is urged
that. with the new duties put upon the mill
tary establishment. there is need Of q greater
hence OF more Of these who begin as addi-
tional Second Lieutenants. The duty OF
serving as Indian Agents. created under re-
cent act OF Congress- and the increase in the
number OF officers assigned as instructors OF
military. tactics in colleges are examples of
his kind.
1t should be noted. however that one very
I'm portant increase in the number OF cadets Is
by the new appointment Of representa-
ives in Congress. under t he last census. which
Der OF cadetships ut the Academy. In addition. |
he new system OF examinations at different |
points and changes In the times OF appoint.
nents ought to increase the percentage OF
nittance. Perhaps 1t may be well to see how
hese elements will hereafter affect the size OF
he classes. On the other hand. should the
pending schemes for reorganizing the artillery |
ind infantry be carried out in such form as
% require permanent increase In the num-
Der OF officers, Congress probably would not
hesitate to enlarge the force OF cadets at the
Military Academy.