Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
[ARMY NIGHT SCHOOLS
Recommendation of General
Theodore ]. Whit.
WILLING ATTENDANCE
WOULD GIVE PRIVATE oPPoR-
TUNITY TO IMPROVE HIMSELF.
Favors Sale of Beer and Light Wines
&C Post Exchange-Inspection of
National Guard Commands.

The War Department has just received
the annual report OF operations III the
northern division for the fiscal year ended
June ~ last from Brig. Gen. Theodore }.
Whit who was In command of that d.
vision for the last twenty days of the year.
Gen. Whit has "a paragraph upon the
post school for enlisted men. in which ne
says:
1T is believed that, inasmuch as exist
ing regulations require a reading, writing
and speaking knowledge of the English Ian
gUage at enlistment. the attendance of en-
listed men at post schools should be vol
untary and that such schools should he
conducted as night schools. Such men as
are truly ambitious to improve their edu-
cation will avail themselves OF the priVi-
lege thus offered. and there will be no
opportunity for worthless men TO avoid
more onerous duty by a perfunctOry at
tendance at school, has been known To
be the case when the schools We're con-
quoted during the hours of ordinary routine
duty. Night sessions were successfully
held during "A portion OF the past season
In this division. II Is further recommended
that such privates as are ambitious to Inn
prove themselves In a professional way or
such promising pTivateS as captains may
Lave In view for future promotion t. the
nonCommissioncd grade be given the prisi-
legeS of the uOnCOmmiSStoned officers
school. IT IL ne thought SuDNerSlYe or ITS
Cipllne 10 have the nOnCOmmisSioned ofh-
GERS and prlvates reCite together, separate
classes might be formed for reCitations and
these brought together only for instruction
by lectures.
Gen. Whit says that in line with the pol
cy Of abandoning. wher ~ r. practicable tie
small posts. 1t Is recommended That the
abandonment of Fort Washable he given
serious consideration, II @rsmS II lie of
no particular military impartlne. and is re-
mote from the railroad. :siies being eX
pensive To maintain. He adds that there
will be in the immediate fItGra other GUAR
ters in the Department Of Missouri available
for the Fort Washable troops.
Beer and Light Wine
I'm view OF the fact that generally in the
immediate vicinity Of army posts. says
Gen. Whit. there are numerous saloons over
which the post authorities have no control
and whose influence on the command Is al
ways bad. 1t is believed that the temptation
TO visit such saloons should be removed as
far as possible by providing a place at the
post under military supervision. where beer
and light wines can be had by enlisted men.
| have never been In favor of the saloon in
connection with the Canteen or post ex-
change, but would give permission to some
responsible person to conduct such place
under fixed rules his lease or permit to be
revocable at the pleasure of post such
other authorities as may be considered
best"
The depletion Of organizations of the line
of officers due to detached service OF va
rious kinds continues. and the multiplicity
of duties imposed upon the balance renders
their work very heavy the greater part of
the time in order to keep the troops up TO
high standard OF efficiency. The general
says that with 50 many officers of limited
experience in the junior grades it is essen
tial that captains should not be detached
from their commands except for very CO.
gent reasons.