Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-07
An English Military Expert Says
They Are the Best Trained
In the World
WEST POINT BEATS SANDHURST
Humlllating Proof That England Has
Prohted Nothing by Costly Les
sons of BOer War
Grectal Corresnnndenoe.

Special Correspondence.
T ONDON Dec. 2s,-"At West Point
the United states has the best
training school for army officers
In the world It Is incomparably
superior to our military school at Sand
hurst"
It Is the fact that this statement was
made to me by Dr. r. Miller Mcguire.
which makes It peculiarly interesting
and gratifying. for over here Dr. Ma
gulre-it IS Of law he is a doctor
is accounted as much an authority on
all that pertains to military education
as Edison is with respect to electricity.
lie has made 1t life study At his
famous private academy In Earls Court >
Square he has trained more pupils for
army stan examinations than any mill
tary coach IN the United Kingdom.
Just before I called he had been en-
gagged IN delivering lecture on tho
Virgnlan campaigns Of the American
Ciyil war; Lord Wolseley has spoken
OF him as zone OF the ablest lecturers
on llllIldlA NlNlhlN bllu lll' hlA Va NhA
we have IN England" Lord Roberts has
eXtolled his military knowledge in
equally nattering terms.
lie 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 or their
navy, they have a general notion that
with regard 20 their army they occupy
an incouspicgous back seat
I'm what respect Is West Point so
far ahead OF the great English military
school?' / asked him.
WEST POINT LEADS.
In everything that counts for efi-
cheney" ne replied promptly "and
there is not general IN the British
army who takes his profession serious
49, from Lord Roberts down, who is not
aware o. 20, Tho course at West Point
lasts four years, instead of three 20 AZ
Sandhurst, and the training is far moro
thorough and severe, being based on ~
profound appreciation Of the require
incnts OF modern warfare and the do
m1njs u makes ON cultivated lntell-
gence The discipline Is rigid and tho
penalties for otenses are nfexlble. So
cidT distinctions are not tolerated. Rich
mems sons and poor mems sons stand
on the same level Each ~ made TO feel
equally that Sinking Of duties ana neg
lect OF studies IS fatal From the start
tho West Point cadet Is impressed with
the idea that "knccnoss' IN all things
Is essential. Unless he a. thorough and
efficient and capabl of passing the very
high standard demanded nt the half
yearly examinations ne Is Dismissed.
Muddling through Is impossible Ac-
compllshments and courtesy and manly
exercises are preferred to silly, boylah
games.
1T Is conceivable that 'duner' may
get into West Point BY way Of noml-
nation or otherwise though history and
geography are obligatory. but II Is alb
soiutely impossible that n dufrer can
come out ~ Il as an officer In the
United States army Not only is the
training adapted ON g!ve him the knowi-
edge necessary for the profession OF
arms, but-what IS equally Important
TO develop the necessary character IL
Is because these two things are so
happily combined at West Point that
rank 10 even higher than Germguv's
military training schools for officers
which, as regards efficiency approach
nearest to IL, though Baron sumeyat.
sa has given me a full statement OF
Japanese education that Is startling in
It's spirit and excellence.
Very different unfortunately, Ia thu
state OF affairs at Sandhurst, which il
practically a preserve for rich mems
sons. Its condition wac revealed IN
the report Of the AkerS- Douglas COM