Evening star., 1903-11-28
THE HABIT OF STUDY
IMPORTANT FOR ARMY OFFICERS
TO REGAIN IT.
Gen. Bliss Speaks of "Steady Dec
adence Resulting in Com
plete Dry Rot"

Detailed study of the military problems
confronting the United States, says Brig.
Cen Tasker H. Bliss in his annual report
as president of the Army War College,
should form an important part OF the work
of the college under the direction of the
chief of staff Gen. Bliss recommends the
elimination from the duties Of the college
"the collection of military information.
He also would eliminate any special study
of material Of war, which, while important
enough, he does not consider Withn the
proper scope of the War College. He rec
ommends that number of officers be Sc
lected at stated intervals for the study and
the working out of a great war game, ana
that these officers should be from among
those who it is known would play an i'm
portant part in the execution OF such plans
in the event of War.
Students for Post Schools.
In the selection of officers for post schools
Gen. Bliss thinks that no difference should
be made in the case of West Point gr"d-
yates. s"No one,' he says, whether from
West Point or elsewhere. should be ex-
cused from any work on the assumption
that lie already knows. good many of
the things now outlined in the post school
course the West Pointer is not likely to
know so well as the man promoted from
the ranks. There is--or, at least, in years
past there has beenzan unfortunate ten-
dency on the part of officers whether from
West Point or elsewhere, to gradually lose
the habit of study Except as connected
with the simple routine of their work), and
with it, not only a failing to acquire the
daily increasing knowledge necessary to
keep them abreast of their profession, but
actually to lose much of what they have
already learned. In short. II was a process
of steady decadence. eliminating in COM
plete dry rot.
Gen. Bliss adds that the great secret of
German success in military training is that
there is never any let up"
Gen. Bliss urges that every encourage
ment be given to the officers of the organ
ized militia to pursue the course of study
laid down for the post schools that lin this
way these schools will perform the addi-
tional function of -insuring the maximum.
number of trained regimental officers for
our large improvised armies in times OF
war
Work Of the War College.
Upon the foregoing lines. approved by
the Secretary of War and the chief Of staff,
the War College has already begun work:
Until the completion of the new building.
which will provide conveniences for the
work of considerable number of officers,
Gen. Bliss says 1t is believed that certain
stated regulations are all that is necessary
for the government of the Army War Col
lege.
He says the special duty of the college
shall be to assist the chief OF staf and the
general staff in the preparation of plans
for the national defense. For this purpose
such number of suitable officers as may
from time to time be found to be necessary
by the chief of staff shall be detailed from
the general staf or from officers of the
line, or other staff corps and departments
of the army, and these officers shall work
with and under the direction of the per-
sonnei provided In paragraph III.