The Washington herald., 1909-06-22
The Making Of Army Officers.

Difhculty OF securing employment In
civil life. together with vastly improved
conditions for our soldiers, has made II
comparatively easy recently 10 secure
enough enlistments TO keep the standing
army Of the United States up 10 its full
strength, but so far from the supply OF
officers keeping pace with the arrny's
growth. it has been steadily dropping be-
hind.
memorandum prepared for Congress
BY Col. Scott. superintendent OF West
Point Military Academy, shows that year
by year the number of cadets graduated
from West Point has so decreased that
at present among the line officers now in
active service only SS.6 per cent are West
Pointers.
OF course. in a way II is gratifying 10
belleve-at least from the standpoint Of
sentimental patriotism-that in this re-
public every enlisted man has a chance
10 rise from the ranks. but when the pro-
portion Of men SO promoted Is as large as
It is II becomes a matter Of serious doubt.
For 1t is not sufficient to-day for a man
simply 70 have the qualities OF leader
OF men. the qualities that made the great
war captains Of the past War is no
longer a question Of dash and bravery
OF personal courage and heroism: il has
become a science. or rather q complica-
tion OF many sciences. and those who
conduct It have TO be specialists OF so
high an order that they cannot be made
in a day or even In a year. Indeed. what
with the Improvements that have been
adopted within the past ten years. the
electric control OF gun fire. smokeless
powder, machine guns. enormous ranges.
the delicate instruments and adjustments
needed for high-angle fre-aH these and
many more branches OF scientific knowl-
edge are needed TO make the competent
officer
The war Of the future Is 10 be a war OF
the mechanicians-so much. at least. we
have learned from the Russo-Japanese
war-and II our army is to be the effec-
tive instrument which we have a right 10
expect from the vast sums we expend
on it we must have skilled scientists
ir command. The efficient officer Of to-
day must be a man not only able to lead,
not only Of thorough training in military
tactics; he must be, in addition. a special
lst OF high order in many branches OF
science.
II was TO create efficient officers that
the Military Academy at West Point was
established It is there. and there alone
not through heroism in the field or good
conduct in the barracks-that the great
bulk Of our officers should be made II IS
time. now that our attention has been
called TO the true state Of affairs. to seek
Tor some proper remedy.
Col. Scott. who deserves to be heard
with keen attention. believes that one
remedy is that when cadet has gone
through three years Of his course his sue
cessor should be at once appointed and
admitted The remedy is not immediate.
but 1t would result, some FIVE years hence, I
N the graduation Of $50 cadets a year and
thus bring the supply or properly trained
officers up 10 the normal
But whether this remedy or another
Strikes Congress as desirable, there can
he no manner Of doubt that some remedy
should be devised and adopted. Year after
year there is a shortage OF about 100 cadets
at West Point It is for Congress 10 decide
what shall be done, and Congress may be
certain that the country at large is not
going TO be contented until a remedy has
been found for state Of affairs to which /
Col Scott has so cogenty called attention
What delight this world would be for
the politicians If there were NOT few
William z Chandler eo-f 10 eo1I--