New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16
RECEIVED INTO THE ARMY
WEST' POINT EXERCISES.
Secretary TAFT and General Chdf'ee
SpcaI:-FiEpiaos There.
10y TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBuNE.I


! 10y TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRTBrNE.I
West Point =. Y. June 15-That the possibility
OF war is ever present and that IN time of peace
country must ever be prepared was the note with
which y iam II. Taft Secretary of War this
-aorning congratulated The graduating class of the
Military Academy On Its entry INTO me Chlted
States Army
you may think tilis dull and embarrassing
tine 10 enter the army said TIE Secretary. we
are not al war but we unable to prophesy what
emergencies may present themselves 10 you in tie
way Of war. This We know. that We have I
machine prepared to NEE. these emergencies and
laymen that are know from the past that
the nations that win those earliest prepared to
meet the shock Of war
One hundred and twentyfour young men. mem
e.s &C the class OF 'O4 the largest graduated
from Yves; Point. sin in The gray and white uni
forn Of the cadet returned Secretary Tafts stead
fast Saze. ana the expression on their faces said.
We too. prepared
The occasion was the hundred and second
commencement of the nations school for warriors
Tie exercises were held in a grove OF stately elms
in front Of the library. A thousand fathers. moth
crs sisters ana swecthearts were gathered about
10 applaud and approve. Looking or envousy
were the three classes 81 cadets who have not yet
completed their course
SALUTE IN HONOR OF FILLPINOs.
The i,r,limnaries Of Yesterday were notable from
the presence OF the British Ambassador as review
ing officer and to-day, likewise, he'd unusual
q dozen Of whom had places the flag draped
platform with the attending army officers and pr
OF The Filipinos arrived in the night on
special train from Philadelphia. A detail % Of
them at carly hour. and when their
carriages reached the top Of the grade salute Of
honor fired. After breakfast at the officers
review of the entire cadet corps was held on
the parade ground. Secretary af. the re-
Viewing officer and if such a thing is possible. the
cadets drilled better for him than they did for Sir
Mortimer Durand Yesterday.
THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
II nearly II o'clock when Brigader General
Mills. commandant OF the academy. opened the
commencement exercises WITH signal 70 the pos
band After prayer by Chaplain Herbert ship
man General James r. Carnahan. OF Indianapolis. a
member OF the board Of visitors. delivered the com
meucemeut address He spoke Of the honor which
world had always given its soldiers and referred
the historic ground which the CADETS had been
prepared. lie asked the public 10 remember that
they came from the North and South, and from
homes Of every class, and not 10 fear the creation
Of aristocrGcy or the fostering of class DIS
rnction. II there was classification it was that
which came from storing the mind and strengthen
ing The body for honest eudcavor in all phases ot
Hfe's battle lie warned the cadets that they mCS-
consider themselves heroes for in all the
worlds history there had been only te" heroes
though many good soldiers
From General Chaffee. CHIEF Of staff. the gradu-
ates received a jovial and cordial welcome into
the army. He said:
You VII sh2rtly Teesiys dnl2na oo whieh The h.;
5trii ~ }ar 'it ssr5intt YOU al ofcial comnlun
cation signed in his own hand. Remem6er We! IT'S
significant words. and never disregard them IN
Know ye" the President will inscribe that
din ana ability OF Blank 1 have nominated him
le % h ' Second eulenant in the service Of
Army OF the United States.
WELCOMED INTO THE ARMY.
Read mis- commission with care ,,, It points he
sun r. shock uust and confidence. You viii
becore leaders OF soldiers, PeIaps IN
ism vaIor ndel!-y and ability. you have tn. four
goal Of the true soldiers amh:uon-houor AID
ward AT sure that You will keep your sTip on
sec i,.2ig Taft said:
You know the limitations OF you. career. You
cannot become milIonaires or captains OF INDUSTRY
You viii be denied the accumulation OF morey for
those who are dear 70 you You are no; ye; sub
co9 suEses should be put upon Ss 5f2ma heg
your fate, but it will not be fun 0: luxury. but
rather Of trial and hardship and love
THE AUDIENCE DEEPLY MOVED.
Then came the statement 10 the nations pre-
paredress for the emergencies Of tho future
and the prophecy Of success. which moved the
audience moro than any. other speech OF the morn
ing. With parting promise that army promotions
would come from merit alone and the warning
that those who fell would be the officers who made
the army a crutch with which TO get along Secre-
tary Taft closed
It was time for the presentation OF diplomas.
Charles p Pettis" called General Mills and =
tall young man from Ellsvile Ill, who ranked
highest in the class. stepped forward TO receive
grasp Of the hand from Secretary TAFT and his
diploma One a time the rest Of the class fol-
lowed. and every one had round OF applause.
A party of army women headed by Mrs. Chaffee
and Mrs Taft looked after the cadets who had no
friends in the crowd.
There followed the promotion drill. in which the
under classes advanced a step IN preparations for
the incoming class which reports tomorrow, The
third received announcement OF their
lurlOugh. the first since entering the company and
when the companies We're dismissed broke into a
mad rush for citizens clothes The graduates hur-
ried for trains for New York, where they will 90 in
n body to sec Tho Yankee Consul" and later a
class dinner at the Murray Hill Hotel. The Philip
pire Commissioners had luncheon at the officers
mess and boarded the steamer Matteawan for New
York. Secretary Taft and the British Ambassador
with his staff hurried away private yachts BY
? o'clock the post deserted by all who did not
have 10 remain. and the greatest commencement
in tho history OF the academy was a memory.