The Washington times., 1908-11-03
Former Secretary of War Is
Man Who First Advocat-
ed Such a School.
FUNCTION TO PLAN
MILITARY SCHEMES
Only Seasoned and Able Officers
Are Permitted TO Stay in This
Exclusive Place.

Secretary Root will deliver the dedi-
CatOry address at o'clock next Mon
day afternoon, when the Army War
College Will Ire formally opened. Invi-
tations 20 the attending ceremonies
have been issued by the chief OF STAFF
Of the army, and the occasion Will bring
together a distinguished gathering or
statesmen, diplomats officials. and men
prominent in the business and state af-
fairs Of Washington.
The. Army War College is situated at
the extreme end of the reservation
within which Washington Barracks is
situated. known in olden times as the
Arsenal"
Secretary Root is the man most able
90 pronounce the benedicuOn upon this
institution, for 1t was through his fore
sight and steady determination that the
United States has today a college with
So which there is a veritable storehouse
e knowledge Indispensable TO the Amer
icsn soldier.
Root Plans II.
When Secretary Root succeeded Rus
sell A Alger as Secretary OF War, he
took a long look at the situation, re-
membered how the soldiers OF the
United States in Cuba. China, and the
Philippines We're landed without a
thorough knowledge of the countries IN
which they were TO fight Il was then
that Secretary Root determined the
country was in need Of a college where
its men could be educated in the topog-
raphy Of the world and where they
could be Systematically taught many
things which. without such a college,
could not be mastered.
An appeal was made 10 Congress- and
an appropriation was soon forthcoming
Tor the proposed college. For nearly
four years. the building has stood az
the extreme end OF the little strip OF
land beyond the barracks, and week
after week has gone by as maps.
charts. and whole libraries Of learning
were packed away within
The Army War College. IN addition
10 being "a place where campaigns are
planned and provision made for the
future. is one Of the most exclusive
educational institutions IN the world.
No young leutenants imbibe at this
font of military wisdom. only season
ed veterans and those who have proved
themselves the brainicst OF their fell
lows are permitted to enter its classes.
How students GeI In.
It's students are selected by a process
OF elimination Brig Gen. William w
Notherspoon. Of the general stan Of the
army. is head Of tie faculty.
Whenever President Roosevelt, the
Secretary of War, General Bell. or
other officials desire to consider or
plan a military movement. IL is not
in the White House that il IS worked
out. nor in the big building where the
War Department is located, but 1t is in
the Army War College, where they may
have any plan OF data at their disposal.
Many days and nights were spent at
the college by President Roosevelt, the
then Secretary of War, Judge Taft, and
other high officials prior to the sailing
Of the American fleet for the Pacific.
Every detail OF the cruise was mapped
out here.
The War College building is one OF
the United States. 1t took an entire
grounds surrounding the college. When
the architects planned the building they
made provision for placing the statues
OF twelve great foreign generals out on
the plaza in front Of the building
only one Of these, that OF Frederick
the Great, has yet been put In place
This statue was the gift of Emperor
William of Germany.