The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-20
WORK AT WEST POINT.
Review Of it by Superintendent Mills.
From the Chicago Record.


day with Superintendent Mills, Of the
Military Academy, listening to a re-
view Of his work here and his recon-
mendations for the future welfare of
the Academy Col. Mills is the
youngest man and the lowest rank
that ever served as superintendent.
He represents the young, progressive
element in the army. and was APP
pointed as recognition Of his gallan
try in the Santiago campaign, when
in the assault on San Juan he was
shot through the head while leading
his company in the charge, and lost
one Of his eyes. He was only lieu
tenant in the lst cavalry when ap-
pointed, and the captain Of his com
pany, Otto Helm, was already on duty
at West Point as commandant of
cadets and became his subordinate.
1t was the PRESIDENT own selection,
made without political influence and no
one knew or thought Of such choice.
The Secretary Of War and the adju-
tant general alone were in the Frcsi-
dents confidence. Lieut. Mills was
in the hospital recovering from his
wound when the notice Of his nomina-
tion was read to him by his nurse
from newspaper. Before he was
able to assume his duties he became
captain by regular advancement, and
the President conferred upon him the
brevet rank Of colonel, which is re-
quired by the regulations for the ap-
pointment.
Sylvanus Thayer, "the father Of the
Academy" as they call him, who
served from 1917 to 1888, and made
the institution what it is, and more
than it was ever intended to be, was
captain Of engineers when he became
superintendent, as was Rober: E. Lee
when he took command in 1852. =.
G. r. Beauregard was only captain
when he was appointed superintendent
in January, 1861, but he was allowed
to serve only five days, when his trea-
sonable intentions were discovered
and he was relieved from duty. It
has been customary to name colonel
and sometimes major general, like
Howard and Scho6cld, to take charge
Of the Academy.
Col. Mills has been great success
as superintendent, and, if he contin-
ues as he has begun, will have bril-
liant record. Never before has the
institution ranked so high for learn
ing, for military science and for dis
cipline. lie has broken up the prac-
tice Of hazing by pcrsuading cadets
that its suppression was essential to
The welfare Of the Academy and the
good reputation of the army. lie has
made several important innovations
which have been frowned upon by
some of the conservative friends Of
the corps, but the results have dem
onstrated their value. One of them
is system Of rotation in filing the
positions of cadet officers, SO that
every man in the Academy shall have
the experience and responsibility of
command at least once during his
course. Gen. Grant used to say that
he never wore o sword until he re.
ccived his commission rs a second
lieutenant in the army, and that he
never uttered command until he was
placed in command Of troops, because
his standing at the Academy was so
low that he was always kept in the
ranks and never achieved the ho1ors
OF cadet officer. But now, under
the system Col. Mills has introduced,
although the cadet officers are still
chosen from the men Of the highest
standing and scholarship, discipline
and soldicrly conduct, every man
takes his turn on the drill and parade
ground, and the superintendent has
asked the board of visitors to select at
random any cadet ir the ranks to take
.he command and drill the battalion,
in order to show how well they are all
able to drill.
The system Of study has been made
little easier for the cadets during
the first year, which is always the
most severe. It is usually the case
that from 20 to 25 per cent of the
"plebes,' as the freshmen are called,
are found deficient in their studies
during the first year and have to drop
out because they cannot keep the
pace that is set for them. The next
three years ere comparatively easy to
one who has had the intellect and the
industry to endure the first. A