The Washington times., 1902-02-09

ME State adjutant general has learn
ed that several military academies
have been in the habit of distin-
gushing their officers from the
rank and file of the cadets by using the
same insignia of rank that are in use in
the regular army and the National Guard
AS this is expressly forbidden by laws
covering the subject. the adjutant general
has notified every military academy in the
State that no such insignia may be worn
by any OF the cadets. The first of this
year saw time of bitter regret among
the soldier boys who were Obliged to dis
card their shoulder straps.
The growth OF private military acade-
mics in the United. States during the last
few years has been prodigious, both in the
number CT institutions and in the attend
ance. During the last three years the col
leges in the country which teach military
tactics and have drills by uniformed ca
diets have increased in number more than
10 per cent, and in the public high schools
| Throughout the country upward of 10000
young men now devote more or less at
tention to military drills. and in many
i
| forms and modern weapons. In certain
States nearly one-eighth of the total num-
ber OF public high schools have intro
duced the military drill as 4 regular
! feature.
| Naturally, however, it is at the private
military academies that the militant
spirit in American youth is fostered on
the most extensive scale. To these in
stitutions come hundreds of young men
who hope to ultimately gain admission to
West Point, whereas others are attracted
by the opportunities afforded for ath-
letics and physical exercise generally.
Although the private military academies
are most numerous in New York, New
Jersey, and adjoining States, they are by
no means confined to that territory. In
! deed, institutions OF this character have
sprung up in all sections OF the country,
and some of the most pretentious mill
tary schools are located beyond the Mis-
sissippi.
There are great possibilities in the pro-
posed extensive introduction of military
training in the public grammar schools Of
the country, where at present upward of
experiment OF afTording this class of in
struction for pupils in the grammar
grades has already been tried, and with
considerable success. In Colorado City.
Col; Newport, KY, and Butte, Mon, mill
tary i struction is paid for out OF the reg
ular school funds, and, indeed, for the
boys in these grades military instruction
is compulsory. The result of the adop-
tiou OF this plan in the cities mentioned
has been most gratifying. Fear was eX-
pressed at the outset that the attention
OF the pupils might be detracted from
their lessons, but. instead of this proving
to be the case, it was found that the
boys actually took greater interest in
their other studies. In addition, better
discipline was maintained and with less
effort and the pupils have shown marked
Improvement physically.
In quite number of cities the pupils
who desire to receive instructions In mill
tary drill are accommodated. This is
the case n the grammar schools of New
York city. Geneva, Yonkers and Roches-
ter. \. Y. As practiced in some places,
however, this plan has objections in that
he pupils who desire to be enrolled
among the cadets are under the necessity
Of furnishing their own uniforms, and in
some instances must also supply their
own weapons and ammunition, a state o.
affairs which is cOntrlbutOry to the unde-
sirable distinction between the poor boys
and those whose parents are possessed of
some means.
The possibilities of military drill. with
incidental camp life and campaigning. in
developing manhood are stril.ingly Illus |
trated by some of the recent achievements |
Of the more important private military
academies in this country. Tho War De-
partment now details some of the ablest !
officers in the army to act as drill mas
ters at these institutions, and in the com
plement of pupils it is nothing unusual to
find number Of young men who have
been outclassed by only the scantiest
margin in the competitive examinations
for admission to West Point.
At the prominent private academies the
cadets participate in an encampment,