The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-01

sI ONDON, Dec. 31-''At West
III Point the United States has the
IT, best training school for army
officers in the world. 1t is in
comparably superior to our military
school at Sandhurst."
1t is the fact that this statement
was made to me by DR.. T. Miller Ma
guire which makes it peculiarly inter-
esting and gratifying. for over here
DR.. Maguire-it is of law he is a doc
tor'-iS accounted as much an author
ity on all that pertains to military ed
ucation as Edison is with respect to
electricity. He has made it life
study. At his famous private academy
in Earl's Court square he has trained
more pupils for army staff examina-
tions than any military coach in the
United Kingdom. Just before I called
he had. been engaged in delivering
lecture on the Virginia campaigns Of
the American Civil war. Lord Wolse-
ley has spoken of him as zone Of the
ablest lecturers on military history and
the art of war we have in England
Lord Roberts has extolled his military
knowledge in f1attering terms.
He had been talking about the state
of the British army when he startled
me by the remark quoted, for while
Americans are proud enough of the
equipment and organization of their
navy, they have a general notion that
with regard to their army they occupy
an inconspicuous back seat.
I'm what respect is West Point so
far ahead of the great English military
school?" I asked him.
West Point Leads in EVERYTHING
IN everything that counts for eff
ciency," he replied promptly land
there is not general in the British
army who takes his profession seri-
ously, from Lord Roberts down, who is
not aware Of it. The course at West
Pointslasts four years, instead of three
as at Sandhurst, and the training is
far more thorough and severe being
based on a profound appreciation of
the requirements of modern warfare
and the demands it makes on culti-
waited intelligence. The discipline is
rigid and the penalties for offenses are
fnf1exible. Social distinctions are not
tolerated. Rich mems sons and poor
mems sons stand on the same level.
Each is made to feel equally that
Sinking Of duties and neglect Of
studies is fatal. From the start the
west Point cadet is impressed with
the idea that "keenness" in all things
is essential. Unless he is thorough
and efficient and capable of passing
the very high standard demanded at
the half-yearly examinations he is dis
missed. Muddling through is impossi-
Die. Accomplishments and courtesy
and manly exercises are preferred to
silly, boyish games.
IT is conceivable that a sduffer' may
get into West Point by way of nomina-
lion or otherwise, though history and
geography are obligatory, but it is alb
solutety impossible that a duffer can
come out of it as an officer in the
United States army. Not only is the
training adapted to give him the
knowledge necessary for the profession
OF arms, but-what is equally impor-
tant-to develop the necessary charac-
ter. 1t is because these two things are
so happily combined at West Point that
L rank 1t even higher than Germany's
military training schools for officers
which. as regards efficiency, approaches
nearest to it, though Baron Sumeyatsa
has given me a full statement of Japa-
nese education that is startling in IFS
spirit and excellence
Very different, unfortunately. is the
state Of affairs at Sandhurst, which is
practically preserve for rich mems
sons. Its condition was revealed in the
report OF the Akers-Douglas commits
sion, appointed to consider the educa-
tlon and training Of officers of the
army. Their report showed that cadets
mad little inducement to work at Sand
hurst and instructors little inducement
TO teach. Most of the military text
books in use were found to be antiouat-
ed and obsolete. There was no insist
ence on high standard of proficiency.
TO get through with as little trouble as
possible was the dominating idea. Nei-
ther as regards knowledge or charac-
ter was the training of the kind neces-
sary to produce competent officers.
The commander-in- chief said the
report, has expressed himself as dis
satisfied with both the technical and
the general education of the officers.
and many witnesses have stated that
1t Is no uncommon thing to find officers
unable to write good letter or to draw
up an intelligible report That this is
no exaggerated statement can vouch.
have had officers come to me for in
struction-rich mems sons and former
pupils Of our much yaunted public
schools-who told me they were
ashamed of being dependent on others
to write their reports for them and
show them how to perform their
duties
No Improvement Since Boer War
But the Akers- Douglas report was
made more than two years ago Surely
riches. Strangely enough, no news of