The Irish standard., 1907-07-13
At WEST POINT
Greatest Military Academy in
80. the World is Located,
Attention to Duty a Character:
$50 istic. of Our Soldier.

Every American citizen is proud OF
West Point Military Academy where
young men are trained in military
tactics in order to be prepared for
the defense. of their country if
called upon. Foreign soldiers who
have visited West Point say it is the
most thoroughly equipped of any of
the military academies Of the world
The graduates from West Point come
from the common people and not
from THE aristocracy, as in some
countries in Europe; Attention to
duty is the characteristic of the grad
uate of West Point. The art Of war
is a complex one and John c. CAL
houn. an Irish-Anerican who was
Secretary of War in 1917. saw. after
the second war with Great Britain
that it would be necessary to have
a man at the head of the military
academy who had thorough training
in discipline and he selected for this
position. Nathaniel Thayer of Massa-
chusetts, a graduate Of Dartsmouth
College. and made him superintendent
The system devised,.by Thayer is al
most identical with the plan in use in
the academy today. 49,.
Soldier making was a theme of
which Col. Thayer had an almost in
tuitive comprehension. He realized
that 1t was not matter of curricu-
lum merely, but as we'll of physique
and character. 1t was necessary to
produce a type. So thorough was his
plan that up to Secretary Elihu
Roots administration no changes
were made in requirements except a
more complete knowledge of geogra :
ply and United States history: The
cadet is not a free agent at college
left to elect at will what pleases his
individual tastes and develops his
own propensities. West Pointers
after being graduated. are to follow
as only happens at one other insti-
tuition. the Annapolis Naval Academy
one occupation. They are dominated
by the spirit. of the corps and must
have or develop the taste. Of the
soldier. There is no fear of loss in
dividually. of becoming machine
The courses, prepared with a definite
aim and balance. are taken by all
with the certainty that a thorough
knowledge of fundamental principles
and how to apply them. is a higher
standard of: scholarship than a shallow
knowledge Of wider scope.
There is just as much time for
academic work, for military work, for
physical culture. for athletics, and
there is no leniency for boys lapses
at any time. The academic day is
completed at $3.50 p. M, and all the
outdoor military instruction includ-
ing guard mounting. is given con-
secutively after that period. Drill
lectures on the preparation of rec.
ords and returns, customs of the
service. uniform and equipments, mil.
itary etiquette. horse equipment, in
fantry. cavalry and artillery are put
| into schedule. every moment O.
which is estimated and its full conten
predetermined. And with all this rigol
of requirements, West Point has time
to stand high in athletics.
There is no attempt at West Poln
to cram all that a soldier shoult
know into his brain at one time
| There two studies at a time are con
sidered enough. 1t is really grea
technical school where the simpl,
fundamental principles Of cours,
are made perfectly clear and rea
sonable facility in handling the pro
cess necessary in their practical ap
Every day each member of class Il
under fire of the instructor, and h,
and every other cadet knows jus
where he and every other cade
stands in every study. Work he see
brings results, and his whole day i
a battle to attain place and avoid tn,
odiurn of being found" 1t is an in
stitution where nothing is left t.
whim or caprice. where the command
ant reports: e.
THE uniform Of cadets has bee,
in no way changed except that new
shoe has been adopted. which is salts
factory in appearance, in wear an,
in comfort to the foot The forme
hop shoe has been replaced by /:
dancing pump"
Hazing is over. say all the oflcer.
but there is a 'benefcent method still
in vogue by which the local starcl
is taken out Of the newly irnpresse
freshman. There is a tale Of one VIII
capoe with clinojoo. frop, honoa news