The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21
CORNERSTONE.

ness have TO be met with and overcome.
but at least they are overcome IL only
a sufficie Mt intensity of purpose lies be-
hind those backing the reform. And now
these great steps have been taken. Meth
ods have been provided for securing the
increased efficiency OF the army and IL
rests with the army itselm to profit, by
what has been done.
More and more II has beco me evident
In modern war that the efficiency OF the
unit OF the individual officer and the in
dividual enlis ted man is going to be the
prime factor I'm deciding the fate OF
fought fields. The exercises OF the bar
racks and the parade ground do not make
five per cent. OF the soldiers real work
and do not count for five per cent. In
his real efficiency. They are very spec
tacular serve good purpose and must
be well done, but they count for the
smallest part In the qualities. the sum
OF which make the army effective I'm ac-
tual service
Oficer and man alike must be trained
TO the highest point in the theory and
In the practice OF the profession. The
forces of mere truism say that II they
are trained 1 nthe theory without crown
ing OF practice they Will amount to moth
ing but they must have the training
and the theory too. They must have that
training or they never can reach the high
est standard OF perfection I'm their art.
The army OF the United States In small
and Il is not desirable that Il should be
other than a small army relatively TO the
population of the country, but we have
a right to expect that that small army
shall represent for it's size tho very
highest point OF efficiency OF any army In
the civilized world. and have the most
absolute faith that 10 that degree OF ef-
nciency II will attain, and that IL will
attain II in no small part because OF the
wise and Jealous use II will make OF the
opportunities afforded by the erection OF
this very building.
Secretary Root followed the president
after n selection by the band. He spoke
as follows:
SECRETARY ROOTS ADDRESS.
Not to promote war. but to preserve
peace by intelligent and adequate prep
| aration 10 repeal aggression, this institu-
tion Is founded. IL is a growth and not
| a new departure. IL In natural and nee
essary development OF the views with
| which General Grant established the ar
| tillery school Mt Fortress Monroe. General
| Sherman established the infantry and
| cavalry school az Fort Leavenworth and
| General Sheridan established the school
/ OF application for cavalry and light ar
| tIllery at Fort Riley
Following tho same policy an engineers
school OF application. a school OF sub
| marine defence. and an army medical
| school were afterwards established. All
| OF these Institutions were practically sus-
pended during the war with Spain and In
the Philippines.
When the time for their reestablish-
ment and II had become evident that not
merely restoration. but an advance and
enlargement OF military education were
demanded by tho enlargement of our
army. the advance and greater complex
ity OF military science, the increased
proportion OF officers who had not the
benefit of n West Point education and
the wider range of military problems
, which tho possibilities of our national
, growth force upon our attention.
INCREASE OF EFFICIENCY.
The growth of separate Institutions
I had reached point whore their efficiency
could be Increased and the results ~
: their work could be utilized best by
+, bringing them into relation as parts OF n
e general system ~ military education
under the inspection and supervision OF
A a single cooralHatiHg and contrsllinr body
and by supplementlng their work with
n post graduate course which should
carry their best men onward along the
q lines of research and of thought by which
{ experience and theory combine 10 the
: making Of skilfui commanders % armies
? Such a system the army r. now putting
= In force as rapidly as possible. The con.