Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-24
ARMY POST SCHOOLS
For the instruction of Junior
Officers.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ADVANCEMENT TO THE GENERAH
SERVICE COLLEGE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Purpose of the Plans Carefully Devised
by Secretary Root-A Well-Train-
ed Military Organization.

The last and not the least important Of
the War Department orders establishing the
general scheme of education and training
for officers OF the army has just been pub
lished. This order establishes schools at
every post in the army for officers includ-
ing all lieutenants and captains of less than
ten years service as commissioned officers.
These schools take the place of the former
methods OF training in the officers schools
and lyceums. 1t is not intended that Of
f1cers shall be forever attending recitations.
Under the old system Of lyceum instruction
there was no such thing graduation, but
under the new scheme, prepared under the
direct supervision OF the Secretary of War,
officers will be able, generally within two
years, to secure certificates in all the
courses which they are required to pursue.
1t Is assumed in the army system that all
off1cers have an average education before
entering the army. There is no excuse for
1t being otherwise, when 1t is considered
that opportunity for education exists so
generally in every state.
The idea which runs through the order
just issued, and those which have gone be-
fore it, is that every officer holding a com-
mission In the regular army should possess
a thorough technical knowledge Of all his
duties relating to drill regulations, guard
duty, target practice service with troops
In camp, military law field engineering and
other branches Of knowledge indispensable
to military men.
Recitations for Junior Officers.
Recitations are prescribed for the Junior
officers. and this practical course will oo-
cupy two periods of ninety days each be-
tween November 1 and April 30 Every.
lieutenant will be required to establish his
fitness not only in the theories of his ordi-
dnfipS III al otto llx, "a
duties or ad1utant. quartermaster, commits
sary and those Of other staff bureaus. He
Will be required to show his mastery of all
the details of company administration.
which knowledge Is Of great importance,
since 1t involves the preparation of all the
muster rolls returns and other company
and other supplies and supervision of the
preparation and cooking of food for the
men.
1t is intended that the officers who estab-
lish the greatest professional aptitude under
the provisions of this order shall be Sc
lected for further instruction az the general
service and staff college. When the system
is In full working order that college will
have higher course than that now practi.
cable there, and from the most distinguish
ed graduates choice will be made of those
who are to be given the opportunities af-
forded by the War College established in
this city.
The New War College.
Inc general SERVICE anu SldlI COHtSc IL
in operation now with a hundred young
officers who have been recently appointed
to the army in attendance as students, talk
ing the post graduate course.
The War College building at Washington
barracks for which Congress made liberal
appropriation at it's last session is now be-
ing planned by Mr.. McKim, the New York
architect, and the work Of construction Will
soon begin. In the meantime the War
College will be conducted in quarters tenn
porartly hired for that purpose on Jackson
place.
1t Is said at the War Department that the
addition to the army during the past two
or three years of more than thousand ann
bilious young men who have not had
previous military training makes 1t neces-
sary that all the older officers shall devote
themselves quite exclusively to the training
of young officers and recruits for some time
to come. Nearly all the old landmarks Of
the regular army have been materially
changed since 1898. If the plans so care-
fully devised and put in operation by Sec
retary Root are carried to a legitimate ana
proper fulfillment the army WILL within
few years, be one of the best trained Of Its
size in the world, and form nucleus for
the thousands of volunteers who will rally
to the colors at the first sign of war.