The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-23
SCHOOLS FOR OFFICERS.


Their Importance.
Washington. July 2s.-Secretary Root
before leaving Washington 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. I wish to call
your attention to the condition which
now requires 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
appointed in the line of the army 1,54z
ieutenants, in addition to- 276 appointed
from the military academy. OF these
GIG were appointed from officers of vol
unteers under the act of February Z,
1901; AZ We're appointed from the en-
listed men OF the regular and volun-
teer armies and 512 were appointed from
civil life.
The abandonment of the military
schools for commissioned officers, which
followed the employment of the entire
army in active military operations, has
left these 1,542 new lieutenants substan-
tally without any means of acquiring
a systematic education. While many
OF the former officers of volunteers have
acquired the most valuable experience
by active service in the field, yet it is
OF great Importance to them, as we'll as
to the unframed appointees from civil
life and from the ranks, that they shall
nave an opportunity for broad and
thorough training, both practical and
theoretical, under the competent masters
in the art of war whom our army is able
to supply.
Congress has now with wise liberal
1ty made provision for the reOpening OF
the army schools, has given its sane
ton to the general system of military
education embodied in the general order
of November q, last, including the en-
largement and development of the Fort
Leavenworth school into a general
service and staff college, the establish
ment of the war college at Washington
with suitable buildings and the rebuild
ing OF the engineer school, and has
made ample appropriations for these
purposes.
Every effort will be made by the
war college board, which has general
supervision and charge of the whole
system, TO bring its advantages to the
new officers of the army as speedily as
possible and to organize officers schools
at all the considerable posts without de-
lay ! ask for hearty and effective CO.
| operation with them on the part of
! every officer of the army. There are
l,45z graduates of the military academy
now holding commissions They especi-
ally have an opportunity to demon
| strate their loyalty to the principles of
| that institution by helping to diffuse
| throughout the benefits which have
| come to them from their four years OF
hard work
''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 hone is nv
| constant intellectual exercise and by
| systematic study of the reasons of mill
tary action and the materials and con-
d1tions and difficulties with which mill
/ tary commanders have to deal
l Careful attention to the instruction.
OF the newly appointed officers is en-
| Joined on all regimental, troop, battery
| and company commanders. They
should be impressed with the impor-
lance of the faithful performance of
every duty, however unimportant it may
appear to them, and with their RESPONSE
| bility for such conduct and bearing in
all their relations as shall do honor to
1 the service