New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-09


ments which go to the soldiers comfort enter
tainment and self-improvement. Libraries
maintained at all the large posts. and also post
schools, which enable any soldier so desiring
TO acquire, free Of cost, fair English educa-
ton To soldiers who have a knowledge of
trades opportunity is often offered for adding to
their savings by doing extra duty, for which
they are well paid. Not the least of the adj
vantages given the soldier is the inducement
held out TO him to save his money. The law
gives him the right of depositing his savings
with the government and these on discharge
paid back 10 him with interest at the rate of
per cent per annum. II not infrequently hap
pens that soldiers after term Of service leave
the army with snug sums sufficient to establish
them in independent business. A soldier who
really wishes to save money can deposit with
the government the greater part of his pay
without at all mountaineering himself.
To the ambitious young man, with
good education. who is DESTROYS of serving as
commissioned officer, the career Of an officer is
open. Vacancies in the grade Of second lieu
tenant in the infantry, cavalry and artillery are
filled as follows: From graduates Of the United
States Military Academy, from enlisted men OF
the army found duly qualified, and from civil
life Appointments under the last method are
few, save in unusual times, such as the recent
reorganization and increase of the army. The
Two IeluOuS are lAc lIOAA4d Hos - u SCo'AA
ing commissions. a civilian TO be eligible for
appointment must be a citizen of the United
States unmarried. between twenty and
twenty-seven years Of age and must be ex-
amined and approved as TO habits, moral char
acter mental and physical ability, education
and general fitness for the service. The educa-
tional qualifications required for an appoint
ment are those embraced in a good English
education, together with good knowledge OF
constitutional and international law.
To-day the army has among its commissioned
force many splendid officers wko have secured
their commissions from the ranks Promotion
is made only after careful examination, mental
and physical Enlisted applicants for commits
sion must be unmarried and between twenty
and thirty years old. All are very carefully ex-
amined by two different boards of officers at
an interval of several months. with view 10
testing thoroughly their fitness for the duties
OF an officer and % giving ample time TO in
auire into their moral character. before
they become soldiers we'll as during their ser
vice. Their examination is competitive in form.
those finally coming out highest being assigned
70 such vacancies as may exist. The mental
examination includes a good knowledge OF the
English language and ability 10 speak. read and
write il with facility and correctness also math-
ernatics, geography. history, constitutional and
international law, well as drill regulations
and allied subjects connected with the service
of the candidate.
To enter the Military Academy and be gradu-
ated from it, the necessary qualifications are
a sound body and constitution, suitable prepare
ton good natural capacity. an aptitude for
study and industrious habits. No candidate is
admitted who is under seventeen or over twenty
two years old. Each Congress district and Ter
ritory is entitled to have one cadet at the
academy: each State is also entitled to have two
cadets from the State at large, and forty are
appointed from the United States at large. All
appointments are made by the President. The
appointments from Congress districts from Ter
ritories and from States at large are made on
the recommendation OF the respective United
States Representatives and Senators. The law
requires that the candidate nominated must be
an actual resident OF the State or Territory from
which the appointment is made. The appoint
ments from the country at large are made by
the President Of the United States on his own
selection and are usually given TO the sons OF
army and navy officers who, from their chang
ing duties acquire no permanent residence, and
have in consequence opportunity 10 secure
appointments in the ordinary way In recent
wears the Presidents appointments have almost
all been given TO the sons OF officers the ma
ioritv 70 boys whose fathers have been killed in
hattie or who have succumbed TO wounds or
/ disease in service The appointments Of SEN
ators and Representatives are frequently given
direct and at other times to young men VINO
are successful contestants in competitive ex-
animation This matter is in their own hands
as no law governs it. For all appointments
second and third candidate are usually selected
/ az aIterDates in order that the existing vacancy
may surely be filled. The high school course
/ of the country fairly represents the best mental
/ rrenaration needed for entrance, and IN fact'
under a regulation recently adopted graduates
/ Of public high schools may be accepted on GER
ti6cate of preparedness in lieu OF the usual
mental examination. While at West Point a
cadet receives $500 year and one ration day.
which is commuted at 80 cents. The total is
an allowance OF 5000 80. and within this amount
he is required TO live, the sum being surhcient
with economy to cover the entire cost OF his
maintenance and provide for his equipment on
graduation. -.
Graduated cadets are assigned as second lieu
tenants in the army Those who are graduated
highest are allowed 20 have a choice OF the va
csnc,es existing in the different arms; the next
highest take Che next choice. and so on USUAL
| w those at the head of graduating CLASS Sc
lect service in the engineers, while the oeheFs