Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-23
PERFECTING THE ARMY
INSTRUCTING THE RECENTLY APP,
POINTED OFFICERS.
Provision by Congress for New Build
ings and Adequate Facilities
Proposed System.

Before Secretary Root left on his long va
cation abroad yesterday afternoon he re-
cetved all the principal officers OF the War
Department and issued the following state
ment to the public regarding military az
fairs:
With the reduction OF the Philippine
force and the withdrawal from Cuba the
army is called upon to resume its most i'm
portant work in time Of pea ce-the work of
perfecting itself in military science and
skill and Of promoting the preparation Of
the United States against future vars
wish to call your attention To the conditions
which now require especial effort and zeal
on your part in the performance 81 this
duty.
Since the declaration Of war with Spain
IN April ISIS, there have been appointed In
the line Of the army 1892 reutenants in
addition 10 216 appointed from the Military
Academy. OF these, GIG were appoit.ted
from officers Of volunteers under tn, act ~
February ., 1901; 4l4 were appointed from
the enlisted men Of the regular and voluu-
teer armies, and 5l2 were appointed from
civil life
The abandonment OF the military schools
for commissioned officers which followed
the employment Of the entire army IN ac-
i've military operations has left these .5i2
new HedtenaUts substantially without any
means Of acquiring "a systematic military
education. While many Of the former Off
GERS of volunteers have acquired the most
valuable experience 10y active service In the
held. yet II is Of great Importance TO them.
as well as Ia tn. unframed aDpoiniee.S from
civil life and from the ranks that they
shall have an opportunity for broad and
thorough training. both practical and the
oretcai under the competent masters in
the art of war whom our -my is able 10
supply.
Congress has now with wise liberalitv
made provision for the reopening OF the
army schools has given its sanction To the
general system Of military education en-
bodied in the general order of November %
last, including the enlargement and dcvtl.
opment of the Fort Leavenworth School
into a general service and staff COLLEGE. thu
establishment Of the War College at Wash
ington, with suitable buildings and the re-.
building of the Engineer School. and has
made ample appropriations Cor these pur-
poses.
Every effort will he mad, by the NsI
College board. which has general super.
vision and charge of the whole system &c
bring its advantages to the new officers OF
the army as speedily as possible. and &c
organize officers schools at an the consid-
cradle posts without delay. | ask for hear.
ty and effective cooperation with them OF
the part of every officer Of the army. There
are 1852 graduates Of the Military Acade.
my now holding commissions. They espe.
cially have an opportunity to demonstrate
their Loyalty to the principles of that an.
sttution by helping to diffuse throughout
the service the benefits which have CONF
to them from their four years OF hard
study.
The newly appointed officers should real.
re that there is much TO be learned anG
that the way to qualify themselves for the
high and independent command for which
they would all hope is by constant intel.
lectual exercise and by systematic study Of
the reasons Of military action and the ma
terials and conditions and difficulties wits
which military commanders have to deal
General attention to the instruction of
the newly appointed officers is enjoined
upon all regimental, troop. battery an.
company commanders. They should be I'M
pressed with the Importance of the faithful
performance of every duty. however unim-
portant it may appear TO them, and with
their responsibility for such conduct and
bearing in all their relations as shall dc
honor TO the service