Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17
A NEW WEST POINT.
GOVERNOR ROLLINS SUGGESTS AN
OTHER MILITARY SCHOOL.
lis PLANS HERE OUTLINED.
He Thinks We should Profit by Les
sons Learned I'm the Last War, and
Henceforth Have Plenty OF Civil
inns With Martial Knowledge.

written by Governor Frank w. Rollins
for the Dispatch)
CONCORD. n. H., August 30-It has
been shown by the late war, think con-
cluslvely, that the lack of experienced
officers in time Of war is the cause OF
much unnecessary loss Of life. The ex-
perience of this nature in the Spanish
war was but repetition of that of the
civil war. There is no reason why this
mistake should continue to add to our
army death rolls indefinitely. The
American nation is capable of furnishing
for defence or aggression as fine fighting
material as any country IN the world.
Such material as is available in time OF
peace very quickly becomes good war
material, but without proper leaders the
best troops in the world are liable to
be beaten by a fore that. properly led
they could demoralze without much eff
fort. Without proper leaders our men,
it has been shown, perish for the lack
Of proper food They die in camp and
in the trenches for want of the care
that only experienced officers know how
to give them. and on their graves there
Died from lack of experienced officers
10 show them how to live"
HOW TO REMEDY THE EVIL.
1 do not say that all Of this kind OF
loss could be avoided. Men will die Of
sickness in war time in spite of all the
care in the world; but much of the evil
could be remedied if men trained to the
handling and care Of troops were to be
had in sufficient numbers to command
them. We have but one real military
school in this country, and that is West
Point We must have more West Points.
1 propose that we establish in
New Hampshire, at the Weirs. on Lake
Winnepiseogee, which is a most beautiful
and convenient spot, a military coli
lege Of high rank that shall be a dupl-
cate in every essential particular Of the
one at West Point Let It have for
superintendent graduate of West Point
and be run on the same lines as that
famous academy; let the requirements be
equally rigid and the curriculum followed
be as closely as possible that of the mil
itary college.
GOVERNOR ROLLINS'S IDEA.
1 make the proposition that the Grand
Army Of the Republic, which is a society
so organized as to be capable Of working
in unison to further such proposition as
this. take up the plan and carry it out.
Let the Sons of Veterans be given prior
right to admission 20 the new West Point,
and let them have the opportunity 70 OBJ
tain thorough training, should they de-
eide TO follow the footsteps of their
fathers and evote their lives to the Union
as officers in the United States army.
These young men would receive a splen-
did education. and be built up physically
d In,
their services were needed in time Of war
they would be competent to command
men and be ready TO take up arms with
a thorough knowledge Of the profession.
FRANK W. ROLLINS,
Governor State OF New Hampshire
Governor Rollins's idea, which he wrote
as above for your correspondent, has
been favorably received throughout this
State and there is no doubt it will be car
ried out.
AN EXPERIMENTAL INSTITUTION.
There are some who favor the making
OF the academy a national one for the
training Of young men who fancy mill
tary lie, but who are not sure that they
are positively fitted for it. Should they
find after entering the academy that they
were mistaken in supposlng they were
born TO seek the bubble, reputation, at
at the academy and continue their course,
graduating 70 take up whatever profess
sion they prefer. The first care of the SUI
perintendent and his assistants will be
the training Of men to become officers I'm
the United States army. and this is TO be
so much the predomlnating idea in the
academy that It will be distinctly a mill
tary training school. Every boy will be
made thoroughly conversant with the
rules Of war and the duties Of army
officers
The only difference between the new
academy and West Point will be that the
West Pointer graduates with the sole idea |
Of entering the army. The graduate Of |
the new academy win leave to 80 into |
the army or not, as he pleases. Thus, ac- |
cording 10 the idea of Governor Rollins. |
the nation will have at its command in |
time of war an almost unlimited number |
Of citizen officers as we'll as soldiers. |
These officers will not have 10 learn the /
art of handling troops In war time by eX-
perlence that means the loss Of lives |
while the lessons are learned, but will be |
capable and thoroughly trained 10 take |
the field and do the right thing az The I
right time when Uncle Sam has his fight
ing blood Up.