Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-23
OUT FEW CADETS.
Naval and Military Academies Lack
Quota of Recruits.


Something is demonstrably wrong
with laws. rules and regulations con-
eerning admission TO the military
academy al West Point and tine naval
academy at Annapolis when the au-
thorities find it Impossible te recruit
the classes 10 the full quota. one re-
suit of this deplorable state OF affairs
is the necessity of holdins compe-
titive examinations next month for $50
commitments from civil life to 81 lleu-
tenancfes in the army For the first
time i'm history of our military eStao-
lishment appointments to the corps OF
engineers will be made from the men
who pass these examinations Hereto
fore. the engineering corps has beeh
sacred TO the star men from west
Point. This extraordinary demand IS
due in part to the increase OF the army,
but is caused in larger part by the ae-
cumulated vacancies at the military
academy for several years.
The $50 successful competitors who
will be commissioned as "a lieutenants
in the United states army are likely to
be all men of college training VINO
have either taken their degrees on pur-
sued a substantial portion Of the
courses. For the special work OF the
army this is by no means eqaRilent to
the mathematical and military educa-
tion and training in tactics and the
drilling in the manuel of arms which
is given fer four years at West Point.
Before the new corp of "a lieutenantS
can be assigned to duty al military
posts they must be sent to the special
schools IN various parts of the country
to be trained and drilled for the per
formance If their professional duties.
Similarly the numerous appoint
ments from civil life to be made IN the
navy Will entail special training for
the men before they can take any
charge as officers Little argument is
needed to show that such training will
fail far short of qualifying the ap-
pointees for their work as compared
with the four years course prescribed
for midshlpmeu at Annapolis
The laws and regulations governing
admission to TIE military academy and
the naval academy are deemed pro
viucial" and antiquated. Perhaps the
entrance examinations are none toe
rigorous though calling for much apti-
tude rather than proficiency in math-
ematics. Military authorities of the
| United States attribute the trouble &c
the workings Of the system Of appoint
ments by congressman.
Each representative has the privilege
Of naming = cadet and an alternate
from his district once in four years
Both may pass the examination and
become eligible for admission, but the
appointment of the cadet stands and
the alternate is ruled out In another
district 10th the cadet and the alter
nate may fail in their entrance exam
nations and then the congressman
for some local reason may neglect to
appoint substitutes. Consequently a
vacancy occurs. What the military
authorities want IS the power to fill
such vacancies after Il reasonable
time BY taking men from the list of
eligtbles irrespective of the states or
congressional districts from which
they come. This is perfectly reason
able solution of the difficulty which
has put the United States in the posi-
ton of going begging for young men