The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-20
WEST POINT STUDIES
STOP THE FOREIGNERS
Records Show That Very
Few Have Graduated.
CALv0 AN ExCEPTI0N
Minister'S Son, Recently 0usted, Well
Up in His Class, and Might Have
Been a "Star."

arthur X. CalVo, the son or the Costa
Rican minister. who was recently with
drawn from the Military Academy, at
the request Of the State Department,
made record in his work at West
Point which distinguished him from all
other South and Central American
cadets who have been permitted to at
tend the Academy
Calvo was hfty-third in a class OF
ninety-six members and his work was
so promising that he would doubtless
have finished the course well at the
head OF his class had not his conduct
been such that Military Academy Off
GERS saw fit to ask for his withdrawal
Sad Careers.
Foreigners who have been permitted
to attend the Military Academy have
had sad career. Only fourteen boys
who were not citizens Of the United
States have been allowed to enter the
Academy. or this number four have
graduated and the others have nearly
all had deficient written opposite
their names. together with with
drawn. dismissed" or discharged. "
The first foreigners admitted to the
Military Academy were Lewis and Ma
thew Blanco. South Americans who were
admitted in 1916. They remained in the
school for two years, and then with
drew because of inability to keep up
with their class. Julian A d. Paez, OF
South America. was the next foreigner
admitted. He entered in lS23, and left
after three years.
One Star.
Antonio Barrios, a Guatemalan. was
the fourth foreigner to try his luck at
Dnfp
thority Of a special act Of Congress
and graduated four years later as the
forty-eighth man in a class of forty
nine. Barrios was the son Of an ex-
president Of Guatemala Victor Zavala.
also OF Guatemala. was admitted to the
Academy I'm 1884. but was withdrawn az
ter dragging along for two years at the
foot OF his class
In 1889 the star" foreigner entered
the Academy. He was Henry Charles
LeComte. a native Of Switzerland and
the son OF a Swiss officer who served
with distinction in the Union army dur
ing the civil war Young LeComte
finished at the Academy as the eleventh
man in a large class.
After Five Years.
Jose Andres Urtecho. of Salvador. en-
tered West Point I'm 1889 and after FIVE
years withdrew from the school With
the class which entered the Academy
ia 1893 were two foreigners-George
Alberto GuirOia, OF Salvador. and Fran
cisco Alcantara. OF Venezuela. the son
OF former President Of that republic
Guirola lasted one year and Alcantara
graduated in 1897 at the foot OF his
class.
Carlos Gutierrez. OF Salvador. was
Withdrew after two years. In 1899 Luis
Iglesias. or Costa Rica. entered and re-
manned for one year. Andres Ponte, of
Venezuela, was admitted in 1898. and
finished at the foot of the class which
was graduated this year.
Olmedo Alfaro. of Ecuador. entered
West Point in 1900. and remained for
one wear.
All of the foreigners who have at
tended the Academy. with the excep-
ton of the two Blancos and Julian 4.
d. Paez. have been admitted by spe
cial acts of Congress. and all Of them
have been the sons Of prominent men,
South and Central American states
men and soldiers have regarded IT as
highly desirable that their sons be edu-
Gated at West Point. but the United
States has been slow TO open the doors
OF the Academy to foreigners. and in
the future it viii probably be more diff
ficult for non-residents 10 gain admis-
sion than Il has been in the past.
Officers Disapprove.
Academy officers do not approve OF
having cadets who are not under all the
regulations of the school. Their inhu-
ence on discipline has not been desir-
able. and IN most cases the class rec
ords of the foreigners have shown that
the work In the school Is beyond cadets
who have not had thorough preliminary
training In American schools