The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-23
SCHOOLS FOR OFFICERS
MANY 1IEUTENANTs WITHOUT
SYSTEMATIC INSTRUCTION.
Every Effort VIII Be Made by the
War College Board to Provide
instruction for the
Appointees.


Washington, July 22.-Secretary Root,
before leaving Washington today, issued
the following:
with the reduction of the Philippine
force and the withdrawal from Cuba, the
army is called upon to resume its most
important work in time of peace, the
work of perfecting itself in military
science and skill and Of promoting the
preparation of the United States against
future wars. 1 wish to call your atten-
ton to the conditions which now require
especial effort and zeal on your part in
the performance Of this duty.
"Since the declaration Of war with
Spain in April. 1898. there have been APP
pointed in the line of the army 1,542 lieu
tenants, in addition to ZIG appointed from
the Military Academy. OF these SIG were
appointed from officers of volunteers un-
der the act of February 2, 1901: 4l4 were
appointed from the enlisted men of the
regular and volunteer armies. and 81.
were appointed from civil life.
THE abandonment of military schools
for commissioned officers. which followed
the employment of the entire army in &C
tive military operations. has left these
1872 new lieutenants, substantially with
out means of acquiring systematic mill
tary education. While many OF the form
er officers of volunteers have acquired the
most valuable experience to them as well
as to the unframed appointees from civil
life and from the ranks, that they shall
have an opportunity for broad and thor
ough training. both practical and theo-
retical. under competent masters in the
art of war, whom our army Is able to sup
ply.
Congress has now, with wise liberal
ity, made provision for the reopening of
the army schools, has given its sanction
to the general system of military educa-
ton embodied in the general order of
November q last, including the enlarge
ment and development of the Fort Leav-
enworth school into a general service and
stan college the establishment Of the war
college at Washington with suitable build
ings and the rebuilding Of the engineer
school: and has made ample appropria-
tons for these purposes.
Every effort will be made by the war
college board. which has general super
vision and charge of the whole system,
to bring it's advantages to the new off,
GERS of the army as speedily as possible,
and to organize officers schools at all the
considerable posts without delay l ask
the hearty and effective cooperation with
them on the part of every officer of the
army. There are 1.452 graduates of the
military academy now holding commits
sions. They especially have an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate their loyalty to the
principles OF that institution by helping
to diff1se throughout the service the ben
efits which have come to them from their
four years OF hard study.
THE newly appointed officers should
realize that there is much to be learned
and that the way to qualify themselves
for the high and independent command
for which they should all hope, is by con-
slant intellectual exercise and by system
attic study of the reasons of military &C
ton and the materials and conditions and
difficulties with which military command
ers have to deal
Careful attention to the instruction of
the newly appointed officers is enjoined
on all regimental, troop. battery and COM
pany commanders. They should be i'm
pressed with the Importance of the faith
full performance of every duty however
4nimportant it may appear to them and
with their responsibility for such conduct
and bearing in all their relations as shall
do honor to the service