Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Plan of Military Appointments.

Recent reports received at the War De-
partment from West Point indicate rapid
progress toward completion of the project
for the enlargement of the United States
Military Academy. The superintendent,
Col. Scott, says that by spring the i'm
proyements will have been advanced suf-
ficiently to accommodate a corps of $50
cadets, and President Taft and Secretary
Dickinson will urge Congress to make the
necessary provision for increasing the
number of cadets by about 12o. The
present strength of the corps of cadets
at West Point was established many
only $1,000 men. In 1901 the army was
increased to its present size OF SOOo)
men and 1850 officers. About the same
time Congress authorized project Tor
enlarging the plant at the Military
Academy and has from year to year ap-
the construction of new buildings and the
enlargement of existing ones, but no in
crease has yet been made In the size OF
the corps OF cadets.
Experience during the last thirty-five
years shows that the annual vacancies in
the army due to deaths, retirements,
designations, etc. are per cent of the
authorized strength. In order to keep UP
a strength Of 1900 officers. about ISL
officers should be appointed per year.
Point is go, but, due to failure Of cadets
in their entrance and semi-annual exam
nations there are usually about 100 va
cancies. SO that the actual number OF
cadets is only about i25, and the classes
graduate on an average about 100 men,
eighty short of the number necessary to
officer the army. Besides the ordinary
vacancies created by deaths. designations,
etc. the army, from time to time. has
been increased and with every such in
to Inr in n
from the ranks and civil life. so that in
the army today only 1876 per cent of the
officers are graduates of West Point and
Ola per cent are non-graduates. Some OF
the best officers the army has ever pro-
duced have been non-graduates, but since
officers of the army, whether they come
from the ranks, West Point, or civil life,
really come from the same classes OF our
citizenship, it is argued that the pest re-
suits will be obtained by selecting them
at an early age and giving them the
benefit of the West Point training, rather
than selecting them later in life, after
they have received more or less non-mlii-
tary educst; ION and have applied them
selves to non-military vocations-
The new barracks have been complet-
ed and partially occupied for more than
a year. and many of the other new build
ings are now ready to receive cadets
There are now vacant rooms and other
accommodations sufficient to accommo-
date 300 more cadets. Since June, 1888,
there have been 5000 appointments to
commissions in the army, exclusive of
the Medical Corps. and during that peri
cd there have been only $50 cadets
graduated from West Point. 1t has been
thought by some that because there are
now relatively few old officers in the
army for a number of years to come
there will be relatively few retire
ments. and, therefore. few yearly va
cancies at the bottom. That. however. is
not the case, because a great number of
the officers appointed as result of the
Snanish- American war were not well
equipped either mentally or physically
for the army, and they are constantly
dropping out because OF physical dis
abilities, inability to keep up with their
studies, designations. etc. or Oil officers
WHO have left the active list during the
last four years. 81 only were retired for
age. whereas $50 left by reason of death.
resignation, etc. OF the $50. 36 were gen.
erals, 81 colonels, q lieutenant colonies.
81 majors. 81 captains. ia first ieuten-
ants and 90 second lieutenants.
The plan recommended by the War De-
partment- for increasing the corps of
cadets provides that appointments shall
be made every three years instead Of
every four, so that each representa-
tive, senator and the President will
make appointments more frequently
but without disturbance of the present
method of distributing such appoint
ments. A similar plan was adopted when
the corps of cadets at the Naval Acad-
envy was increased to it's present size Of
about 1000 men, and 1t Is thought that