The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18
AT THE MILITARY ACADEMY
A Description of West Point as Ii
Actually Exists.
Founded More Than 100 Years Ago
Over 500 Cadets in Trainin:-what
Each Glass studies - The Written
aud Unwritten Laws Which Exist.

aud nNritten taHs " men
Everyone knows IN a general way what
kind of a school the United States Mill
tary Academy at West Point is. 1t is a
special school for war established by the
Government in 1S'2 for the training of can
didates for commissions in the army. At
the beginning there were ten cadets. Aft
er the inglorioUs war of 1872, in which the
need of trained officers was soreIy felt
Congress reorganized the Military Acad-
envy ana a maximum of 80 cadets was
authorized.
Since 1873 the cadets have been appoint
ed one from each Congressional district
one from each Territory. one from the
District of Columbia and ten lat large.
In 1890, as a consequence of the new re-
u.irements of the country the Academy
was enlarged and now consists of one ca
Diet from each Congressional district ap
pointed on the recommendation of the
Congressman, one from each Territory,
one from the District of Columbia. two
from each State at large. appointed on
the recommendations of its two Senators.
and thirty from the United States at
large" Under the last apportionment
the maximum number of cadets is thus
511.
With the exception of thirty cadets "at
large each member of the school must
be an actual resident of the district from
which he is appointed. This insures a
fair and even representation Of the whole
country in the army. Our army rests on
democratic basis.
When The candidate presents himself at
West Point he is subjected to a rigid
physical examination and must pass a
gsslin in
reading. writing spelling, arithmetic. ele-
mentary algebra, plane geometry. English
grammar, composition and literature,
geography, history, and elementary physi-
ology.
The examination questions in them
selves are not very difficult, but the tests,
such as they are, are rigidIy applied The
Government pays each cadet $40 per year
and has the right to exact the strictest
compliance with its requirements
Immediately upon passing his examina-
lions the candidate becomes a cadet-that
is, warrant officer of the army. He
ranks above all sergeants and next below
officers commissioned by the President.
The fourth class first year mem study
mathematics to include comic sections,
French and English. and the theory of in
fantry and artillery tactics. and they are
Constantly ulltleu IN the practical eNeT-
cises of these two arms The third class
terminates the mathematical course with
calculus, studies French and Spanish, ge-
omctric and topographic drawing. the the
DRY OF infantry, cavalry, and artillery tao
tics and surveying, and is exercised in
riding and the building of military
bridges.
The second class studies mechanics. as
tronomy, and the physics of light and
sound under one professor and the phys
les of electricity and heat under another; 4
who also teaches chemistry, uliaeralogy,
and geology. This division of studies is
an inheritance from early days and must
soon be superseded by a rational arrange
ment which Will put all the physics in one
department, leaving the chemistry and
geology to another. Drawing is continued
in this year with special application 10
military subjects-engineering ordnance
and the like. Tactics is continued in all
three arms and practical military engi-
neering and signaling is continued.
The first class students comprise civil
and military engineering, military and in
ternational law, historic and historical
geography, practical exercises in astron-
and theoretical instruction in tactics and
the military service of security and infor-
nation.
The course of study is extensive. but it !
is very thoroughly covered. The secret of |
the success of the Academy is simple. Its
keynotes are two. In the first place the |
Academic Board-the faculty-is compos-
ed of permanent professors who teach !
mathematics, physics and the like and of
officers temporarily assigned who are the |
heads of the departments of military en- |
gineering, tactics, law. ordnance, etc. The |
permanent staff maintains traditions that /
have been approved by the experience of /
nearly a century; the officers detailed |
temporarily bring fresh blood to the |
school, the experience of war, of camps. of !
active service. All the present officers of |
instruction, without exception, are grad |
yates Of the Academy and represent what |
is best in the whole service.
The second keynote of the peculiar sue |
cess of the school consists in the proper
tonately large number of instructors |
compared TO the number of pupils The |
register for 1891 bears the names of C Off
GERS who are charged with the instruc-
ton of 81 cadets. There is one instruc-
tor to six pupils nearly. This enables the !
classes to be divided into small sections
for recitations. In mathematics. for ex-
cadets who recite TO one instructor for 80
minutes daily. The mathematical ac-
quirement OF each cadet is, therefore
tested, on the average, during nine min
utes daily, Eover a period of two years |
No single days work can be neglected
without detection. Nemesis comes once Il
week in the shape of marks" posted for
each day recitations. If the marks are !
excellent the cadet may look forward 10
quick promotion in the future: if they are
passable his promotion will be delayed;
If they are low he runs the risk of losing
his commission in the army. and besides
this he is punished by confinement to his
quarters. etc, for neglect of studies,''
which is neglect OF dsty-a military Of
fence. therefore.
Every offence is punished in the same
way. by 'demerit marks" There are. for
example. about 1900 opportunities for
cadet TO he late at roll eall'' during the
four years. For each tardiness one de-
merit mark is given. Two hundred de-
merit marks received in any one year
cause dismissal Every dereliction of |
duty is noted-''one button of uniform
coat unbuttonod at drill" for example
and punishment follows hard upon it.
This is the method Of Mother Nature
stumble and the fail Will hurt Punish
ment IS immediate. ineXorab.c just The
result is the formation of fixed habits ex- |
actiy lifted to the conditions natural in |
the one case, imposed IN the other.
Besides the written code of the Academy
The cadets have an unwritten code OF their
own. No man may lie and remain COM
A cadet and gentleman" is an offence |
against the written code and il is also