The evening times., 1898-08-25
TRAINING OF OFFICERS
Cadets at West Point and An
napolis Work Hard.
HAVE BUT LITTLE LEISURE
During Their Four Yenrs' Course
They Have hut One Vacation.
Arise mt 5:sO and Retire at 1O-The
Da. Is Taken Up With study
and Drills.

1t is said that congressman during the
past few stirring months have been over
run with requests for information regard
ing the method of securing appointments
to West Point and Annapolis. Opportuni-
ties for a military education at the Gov
ernment's expense are limited.
While the nation is busy training young
men at Annapolis for their careers as its
future admrals, other busy and ambitious
Young men at West Point are applying
themselves to work which they hope will
make them generals of the army in years
to come. As in other vocations. natural
aptitude and personal preferences have
much TO do with determining the branch
of service the young men adopt, so that
the majority of cadets at West Point or
Annapolis are there because they prefer
the army or the navy.
The method of entering the Military
Academy at West Point is similar to that
of getting into the Naval Academy. Each
member of the House of Representatives
is allowed to name a cadet If vacan-
Cy LOT MS uislFlcl tAiSlS during MS teTIu-
Many congressman hold competitive ex-
b aminations for West Point appointments
and appoint the successful applicants.
This is regarded as the fairest method
of making selections, as it eliminates po-
litical considerations or personal prefer
ences. Some of the brightest graduates
from West Point owe their carers en-
tirely TO their own efforts. and in many
cases have been of different political faith
from the congressman who appointed
them.
When the aspirant TO military fame Sc
cures his appointment to West Point he
has only encountered the first difficulty.
The next step Is to pass the physical and
mental examinations required by the Gov
eminent. In former years ne was requir-
ed to report to West Point for these
tests, but now there are examining sta
tions-usually military posts-in various
sections of the country, for the greater
convenience of candidates.
After successfully encountering this
danger, the new cadet reports to the
superintendent at West Point and joins
the first-year men. After a very short
time at that institution he realizes that
he has entered upon four years of hard
work. Study and drilling keep him busy
and strict military discipline engrafts
upon his nature that wholesome respect
for law and order and the ready and un-
questioning obedience to superiors that
are worid-renowned traits of the Ameri-
can officer.
When a cadet enters West Point he
must make a deposit of 800. This is used
TO provide him with the regulation cloth
ing and quarters outfit. If any balance
remains it is held to his credit. From
that time he becomes a ward of the ma
ton and ceases to be a financial burden
upon his family. The Government al
lows him $3.50 year. The money is not
paid him, but is annually deposited to
his credit. Against II are charged his
board, clothing and other expenses. Or
dinarily a cadet saves a portion of his
allowance each year, SO that upon grad
uation he may have a few hundred dol
lars to his credit. This he needs to pur-
chase uniforms and other equipment as
q second lieutenant in the regular army.
No part of his allowance is given a ca
det for spending money. Whatever he
may have for that purpose must be sup
piled by his family, If at all. He is not
supposed, however. to need or have
spending money, and such practice is
discouraged His trousers, even, are
made without pockets. All his necessary
wants are supplied by the Government
and his only business is to learn as
much OF military science as possible
Ihe daily routine keeps the cadet busy
He must jump out of bed at $50 O'Clock
IN summer and o'clock in wiIN.r Ten
minutes later the Sick call is sounded.
when all who are unwel must report TO
the surgeons at the hospital for examina-
non and treatment. AT 6:15 breakfast
beg ms. The cadets march 10 their meals
In military order and must seat them
Selves and rise at command. Guard
mount comes at o'clock, and at S
O'Clock recitations begin, continuing un-
til ! o'clock. when dinner is served.
Study and recitations occupy the time
between and 4: at 4:15 there Is a drill
and at $50 parade Supper comes at 6:15,
and twenty minutes later all are required
to go to their rooms for study. At $50
O'Clock the cadets are permitted TO go to
bed If they like, ana all must be in bed
by 10 O'Clock, when Lights are out.
1t will be seen from this that the cadet
has little opportunity for recreation. A
little over an hour is the longest per.od
in the day he can secure for sports. He
has but one vacation during his four
years term. During his second summer
he is allowed leave from June ID to Au-
gust 2S and may vis:; MS family There
is no mental work done in the summer,
however. From June Is to September /
the cadets are in camp learning in a
practical way the duties and RESPONSE
biities of a soldiers Efe. A great deal
of time in camp Is devoted to drilling.
The cadet is thoroughly familariZed
with the requirements of each branch of
the service, the object being to turn out
officers qualified equally well for the ar
tillery, cavalry, infantry or the engineer
corps. To this thorough, all-round train
ing is due the general superiority of the
American army officer.
There is always detachment of caval-
ry of the regular army at West Point to
assist in caring for the horses used in
the cavalry and artillery drills When in
camp the cadets at the time in the cav
airy class must care for their own horses
The horses belong to the Government, but
upon the formation of a cavalry class the
cadets are allowed 10 select their horses
by lot. There is also kept at the insti-
tuition detachment of the engineer
corps to assist the cadets in field work
and help instruct them.
When the cadet graduates his standing
in the class usually determines what
branch of service he shall be assigned to-
few standing at the head may practi-
cally choose for themselves. With his
graduation from West Point, however,
does not come a cessation of study, al
though 1t brings a commission in the ar
my.
After having spent four years in mas
tering the full military science and hav-
ing been assigned to some particular
branch of the service, the young officer
devotes two years to postgraduate
course in that branch. There are three
Of these postgraduate schools. That for