New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-01
5FW AMERICAN MILITARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
WAR COLLEGE And SCHOOLS TO GIVE QUE ARMY
MOST COMPETENT OFFICERS AND MOST IN
TELLIGENT SOLDIERS IN THE WORLD

- NOT only 20 take conspicuous rank ana et-
.-.er much attention. but IL vii, IN time. be
able as the source Of scientific military Learn
,,r More than ali else, however, as potential
ssctor OF safe and conservative government, II
-, -. = ynouu-ient 10 the wise and successful
,orcv os E.!hu Root. whose splendidly conceived
s,,-.ers q improved military efficiency and re-
90 embraced ,hs scheme OF higher military
eduoatioa. which for over century had been
neeIected ard ignored.
sac7e,arv Root N his first annua! report to
,~o,rr.,s La 1929. urged the importance OF
tisbsr military education. recommending. among
,,bar features OF his proposed scheme. the
establishment OF w&r college. which, aside from
cher duties. should be required TO direct the
,-.,-yction and intellectual exercise Of the
.,v" Although Congress. IN June. 1902. in
.,,roring the Root military education scheme.
o.ae nrovision for the War College, 1t was
s..-,ed prudent 10 proceed slowly with its es-
..bl,.br,eut n order that. so far as practicable.
.,,s,axes might be avoided The original plan.
bovever Is outlined n Nj. Roots report 70 Con-
grsss two years ago, has been adhered TO- arc
90 Secretary Tacr has caused orders TO be is
sy-s announcing IN seventy-eight printed pases
~ explanatory details the full requirements and
purpose OF the scheme. It's scope IS broader and
more extended and systematic than any before
ascending courses Ct study which. besides keep
frg pace with the educational progress now 50
marked throughout cur own country. goes be
vond any foreign military method ever attempt
ed promising to make the United States. for the
first time fl history model for The whole
military world.
Beyond the cost % the headquarters buildings
on the old Washington Barracks grounds. tbs
arrangement fer this new governmental enter
prise viii involve little or no extra cost, as al
the teachers and school buildings required are
already provided for IN the routine army or
Ean.zation. When II is known that plan 50
promising and inexpensive is designed not only
70 improve the efficiency and increase the use
fulness Of the regular army, but contemplates
opening the doors OF al military schools and col
leEes 10 the organized militia OF the various
States. which under the new conditions VIII be
brought into closer touch with the federal mill
tarv. and both be better united and more agree
ablv harmonized than ever before. the move
rnent is sure 90 become popular as well as bene-
hcisl.
Heretofore. or at any rate. decade ago. the
West Point Military Academy. although con-
ceded BY military critics 70 be the best military
institution OF SIS Kind on earth. was the single
and solitary federal school In this country for
he instruction and training OF candidates for
commission IS regular army officers. and the
distinction achieved By its graduates IN both
military and civil Efe has fully sustained The
reputation Of that school. But as time passed
& was discovered that. despite SIS high prestige,
West Point, after all. was only q preparatory
military school, whose graduates, though ad-
nira5ly fitted for the duties they were likely
first 10 encounter on entering the army. were
nevertheless stiu IN need OF the higher military
education Only 70 be obtained by continued post
graduate study OF the science OF their profess
sion. With no opportunity for q post graduate
course the West Point graduate. after receiving
his commission as officer. was left 20 his own
free viii 70 study not. as be pleased, and
higher professional artainments were made 70
depend alone upon the individual aptitude or
personal inclination OF each officer for study.
Gradually efsorts were made 20 correct this
condition. Mental and physical examinations
became z fixed precedent 10 promotion. up 20
and including the grade Of major. and subse-
quently separate schools OF application were
established for engineers, artillery, infantry
and cavalry officers.
The usefulness OF these institutions. however.
proved only nominal. ana the Spanish war dis
rupted the whole plan Of increased military
study. When the war ended, West Point be-
came again. as 81 had been formerly. the one
ar time too, when the army was more
vitality in need than ever before OF an estab-
lished system Of instruction OF officers especial
y Of those recently appointed from the volun-
1eers and civil life. with comparatively no mill
taTy training Then followed various unsuc-
oessfu Efforts 10 revive and extend the system
q post graduate education.
NEED OF HIGHER ARMY EDUCATION.
Thus the unsatisfactory conditions continued.
oeplored BY every thoughtful officer OF the army.
some Of whom for more than a generation had
been trying TO evolve some satisfactory system
o. REINFORCEMENT and enforced study espe-
cially for the younger officers as well as the
naturally tndolent classes. Indeed. 70 the credit
q the army itself Il must be admitted that
-ong ago IL aspired 10 do the work that IS only
now about 10 be undertaken AS far back as
1871 commission. consisting OF three OK the
most eminent military tacticians and students in
The army, was depUtized 90 travel over the
world 20 study and report upon military organi-
cation from tactical and strateg1cal points OF
View. combining with other pertinent observa-
lions reports on military schools and methods Of
Instruction and study in the higher art OF war
But, unhappily. the valuable reports and recon-
nenoariOns OF General Upton. who had con-
Quoted the investigation and who was both a
Natural bern soldier ard teacher. as well as
St1Sent ana strategist, failed to appeal favora-
oiy 70 Congress. Il was not until Secretary
SsSoL n 4cSs. became the director OF military
tnAt the Upton scheme OF military reor-
s3-'41I'eA ana Improvement submitted in 1877
as Fososseeesd and fully or fairly considered.
secretary Root persistently hammered INFO the
congress MIND his ioess 90 th. imperative i'm
por1s=ee Of higher education OF the arm and
borrowed no; little from General uuton,s re-