New-York tribune., 1901-04-07
ECLIPSE OF WEST POINT.
FEW HIGH ARMY OFFICERS GRADUATES
OF THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington April s.-The approximate total
eclipse of West Point the source OF army COM
manders the present time, while it is notable
fact is misunderstood TO a great extent even
among those who the service. and II is likely
TO create utterly false impression on the general
public, which Is beginning TO manifest a
wholesome interest in military matters. 1t may
astonsh persons to be told that of the thirty
three general officers now at the top or the army
only six are graduates Of the Military Academy
and of the twenty-five generals of the line, the
commanders of actual fighting forces. only three
had the advantages of a West Point education
Without explanation this remarkable state or
affairs might naturally give rise to grave doubts as
the practical utility of the great national school
the Hudson, suggest a similarly erroneous
suspicion that other than purely military consldera-
tons had governed many Of the selections tor the
highest grades. At the present time the army or
ganization is head by one lieutenant-general SIX
generals of the line and one major-general OF
the staff none of whom are graduates of the Mill
tary Academy. They are Miles, Brooke, OTIS
Young Chaffee, Macarthur, Wheaton and Corb1n
There fifteen brigadier-generals of the line
Wade. Merriam, Ludlow. Bates John CO, DAVIS
Sumner Wood, Hall. Hughes, Randall. Koboe,
Grant Bell Smith and Funston Of these Ludlow
Hail. Grant and Bell are West Pointers. There are
ten brigaders in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Breckenridge Judge Acknowledgement Lieoer
Quartermaster-C General Ludington, Commissary-
General Weston, Surgeon-General Sternoerg. Kay
master-General Bates (Alfred Ed, Chief OF En-
eineers Wilson Chief of Ordnance Burlington, Cilel
Signal officer Greedy and Chief of the RECORD Dl-
vision Answorth. OF these ten only three-bates'
Burlington and Wilson-came out or west folit'
and in the cases of Wilson and Burlington there Is
no alternative under the law, when supuIdteS ma
West Point men shall be at the head OF the En-
g,neer Corps and the Ordnance Bureau In Iact,
none hut West Point graduates become members ol
these CORPS and it naturally follows that ther
chiefs must be graduates of the Military AcaoenS'
A RESULT OF REORG ANIZATION
stranea as this state of affairs may appear to
the superficial observer. it indicates Enthusiastically
that good soldiers may be made OUTSIDE OF tne
national school and goes far to show that under
the American system, at least. some soldiers are
born to command. The striking predominance OF
commanders who never went through west Polnl
is certainly altogether due to any particular
favoritsm or wirepullng, but is TO a great extent
one OF the results of the reorganization or the
army at the close of the Civil War At that time
many volunteer officers who had worked them
selves up from the ranks by sheer merit or other
influences TO commissions in the regular establish
ment. and by of the timeliness Of their ap-
thaI few colonels are graduates of West Point.
More than that in going down the line of each
regiment IT is noticed that the colonels lieutenant
colonies and one and sometimes two and three OF
the majors were never at the Point Naturally,
who had seen DISTINGUISHED service IN the Clvli
War became colonies of regiments, and had also
Spanish war. and they have steadily advanced 10
the grade OF general through retirement above
1t happens that the West Point gradua tes who
colonels entered the artillery corps from their
choice upon graduation The artillery did get
much of an Opportunity in the Spanish war. and
still less In the Philippines. Both In Cuba and the
Philippines infantry and cavalry the
troops that took the prominent part IN the fighting.
cavalry regiments had much chance to distinguish
themselves. and these colonels and lieutenant
coones the who secured promotions 10
be general officers
THE -GENERALSHTP
Most OF the present generals and high officers OF
the army having served in two generation
apart II follows that many OF them will retire in
the next five or six years and It is probable that
between 1908 and 1910 the West Pointers who
captains. many OF whom will become majors
under the army reorganization law. Will be ad-
vanced TO brlgadiers. and even to major generals.
There Is little doubt that a West Pointer will be-
come the head OF the army. for both Ludlow and
eral in the time. But It is figured out
by those West Pointers who prone 10 take a
pessim!stc view of the situation that, following
Miles. COr5in Will be made NeUtena nt-generai and
after him Wood. and then Funston. This Is not
necessarily the case. While Macarthur is probably
destined 10 be lieutenant general for a short time
there reason why Ludlow should follow
him ahead OF Wood More than that timber for
lieutenant generals may be developed in the Of
tcers vet 10 come into prominence. The selection
OF general officers is in the discretion the Presi-
dent, and some major generals may be passed and
colOnels IN the future be Jumped over hrga-
d!ers and made major generals. Consequently,
there is actual necessity for the scheme OF fol-
lowing Miles with Corbin, and Corhin with Wood
and Wood with Funston. although that IS the most
probable sequence. in the opinion OF the best in
formed officers to-day.
THE NEW CAVALRY REGIMENTS