The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-08
Secretary Root Originator
of the Idea, to Make
Chief Address.
PROGRAM WILL NOT
HAVE MUCH POMP
School Is Filling Long Felt Want
and Officers Are Learning About
Other Nations.

The Army War College viii be dedi-
Gated formally at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon. and the event will mark the
formal establishment Of an institution
which viii be a permanent monument
20 Secretary Elihu Root, Secretary Of
state. Army officers express the belief
that in establishing the college, Mr.
Root did more 10 advance the efficiency
Of the army than any other Secretary
Of War in the history of the United
State
There is little pomp and ceremony
at the Army War College. Omcers
have been studying there for several
months without the knowledge OF the
general public and there is no desire
10 attract attention TO It. For that
reason, the dedicatory ceremonies VIII
be transformations and no program has
been decided upon. aside from the adj
dress which will be delivered by Secre-
tary Root It is expected that some
of the officers may speak briefly, prin-
cfpaHv Gen. j. Franklin Bell, chief OF
star, and Brig. Cen William W. Woth-
erspoon. All the members Of the gem
erai stanf who are now in Washing
ton and a number Of other army on
GERS will be present
Roots Influence Great.
Secretary Root has made his influence
felt in two important branches Of the
Government. He revoluuonized the
methods OF the War Department when
he held the portfolio from that Depart
ment. and he crowned his work by es-
tablishing the college
Nj Roots address tomorrow will be
addressed strictly TO the officers OF the
army. It will relate just what prompted
aim to ask Congress for funds 70 build
and maintain the college.
The condition Of the army before. dur
ing, and Immediately after the Spanish
war was such that Secretary Root, who
succeeded Secretary Alger. reached the
conclusion that drastic measures were
necessary to place the army on a foot
ing where 1t would be able to cope with
any situation which might arise-wheth-
er il be a war on our own shores or on
shores which had never been invaded
by American troops. Af--r much study
he decided upon the plan of an army
war college. and his arguments in its
favor We're so logical that Congress did
not hesitate long 20 make the necessary
appropriations during two successive
sessions.
Today, the college is a working in
stitutlon, with the higher officers OF
the army as its students.
STAFF Is Prepared.
1t is said By one OF the men detailed
for duty at the magnificent building on
the banks Of the Potomac that 1t
would be impossible TO conceive of a
war on any part of the globe which
would find the general stan unprepared.
General WOtheTspoOn is head of the
faculty, and General Bell devOtes much
of his spare time at the college.
Maps showing in detail the topog-
raphy of every nation in the world,
transportation facilities, both on land
and sea, are matters which form the
rudimentary basis Of the college course.
An expert on military affairs, speak
ing Of the progress made at the insti-
tuition, said last night:
should il become necessary for our
troops to land in a foreign port with
warlike intent, as they did in Cuba.
as they did in the Philippines. as they
did later In China they will not be
handicapped by such a dense ignorance
of the typographical conditions OF the
country. and the condition Of its de-
lenses, as prevailed on those occasions.
The work Of the college is such that
NC are alvvay-e mana yaT