Evening star., 1911-08-27

s. run the gantlet of a "preliminary men,
tai examination differing according to
whether you aspire to enter the mobile
army or the coast artillery If you would
become an infantry, cavalry or field ar
tillery lieutenant this preliminary test
will include English. grammar and or
typography, algebra, geometry and trigo-
nometry. geography and history. But II
examination in mathematics will be made
sitter by the addition of calculus-differ-
entiai and integral In all cases a show
ing in mathematics will count you much
jects. If you do not make a general
average Of 20 you are down and out at
your first pitfall.
This ordeal Of the preliminary examina-
tion you will entirely escape II you can
prove yourself graduate of either
recognized" college or university, or of
college or school that is essentially mill
tary and to which an officer of the regu-
lar army is detailed as a professor of
military science and tactics.
tages have been. you must report Septem-
ber 5, at the designated military post,
there to be taken in hand by an army
board Of medical and line officers, for the
final examination that is to decide your
fate.
First will come a careful physical test
to determine whether you are big and
strong enough to uphold the honor of the
army and fight your nations battles. In
addition to proving up to all of the physi-
cal standards required of recruits en-
listing In the ranks you will have to
show that your degree of vision is good
and that you are not color blind for red,
green or violet In the vision test your
eyes must show a degree less than 20
40,' the meaning of which any oculist
or optician can readily explain. thus. per-
haps, saving you the trouble and expense
of taking the final test
Should you apply for a commission in
the mounted service-the cavalry or field
artillery-you will be put astride Of
nag upon whose back you must trot and
canter around a ring, while a supple
mentary board" of officers takes notes up
on your ability to weather the journey
The physical test Is your second pitfall,
and unless you escape 1t it were futile
to pass on to the line officers who await
to give you your final mental examina
tion which, too. will vary according to
whether you wish to enter the mobile
army the coast artillery.
If service with the latter is your aim,
the examination will include elementary
electricity. mechanics and chemistry:
and in addition either advanced mathe-
matics. electricity or mechanics. as you
may elect, also the Constitution of the
United States, the organization of the
government and the elements of inter-
national law.
But If you choose to become a lieuten-
ant of cavalry. field artillery or infantry.
your examination will be entirely dit
ferent. save in the subjects Of Constitu-
tion, government and International law.
You must qualify In general history, ele-
mentary French, German or Spanish and
such of the following advanced optional
subjects as you may choose: Calculus
and analytical geometry, or "a thorough
working knowledge of any modern lam
guage," such as covered by a four-year
course at a university. or "a general
knowledge of the English language or
English literature which assumes IA
miliarity with the great authors from
Chaucer down through Stevenson. Be-
fore being designated" for examination
by the adjutant general you must in
form him as to which of these optional
subjects you wish to be examined upon.
All making IS or over in the whole men,
tai examination will be graded in three
lists.