Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-07-24

for admission to West Point Military academy in 1915 have been appointed, the war department announced today, as follows: Arkansas, Leo A. Nichol, Pine Bluff; Texas, Albert IS. Wright, Kirbyville.
 High School Graduate.
 Leo Nichol, named in the above dis patch as having been appointed to cadetship at the United States Mili- tary academy at West Point, is son of William Nichol, one of Jefferson county's foremost citizens, and nephew of County Clerk c. M. Nichol and Cashier Jo Nichol of the Sim mons National bank. The lads father is graduate of West Point.
 The appointment comes to young Nichol through Congressman Sam Taylor, and the appointee will i'm mediately begin preparation for his examination in March, 1915. Leo Nichol only recently graduated from the Pine Bluff High school. where he was active in athletics and all move meats tending to the betterment of the standards of scholarship.
 Facts About West Point.
 Interesting facts about the school where Uncle Sam trains his boys in the art of war are contained in The Graphic 1914 Handy Almanac and En- cyclopedia, from which the following is quoted:
 Appointments, how made-Each senator, congressional district and territory-also the District of Colum- bia, Porti Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii is entitled to have one cadet at the academy. There are also forty ap- pointments at large, especially con- ferred by the President of the United States. The law, however, provides that for six years, from July 1 1910, when ever any cadet shall have finished three years of his course at ! the academy his successor may be admitted. b
 Date of appointments-Appoint- n1ents are usually made one year in . advanGe-o of date of admission, by the secretary of war, upon the nominal tion of the senator or representative. These nominations may either be made after competitive examination or given direct, at the option of the ; representative. The representative may nominate two legally qualified second candidates, to be designated alternates. The alternates will re- ceive from the war department let ter of appointment, and will be ex- amined with the regular appointc and the better qualified will be ad- mitted to the academy in the event of the failure of the principal to pass the prescribed preliminary examina- tions.
 Candidates-Appointees to the Military academy must be between seventeen and twenty-two years of age, free from an infirmity which may render them unfit for military service, and able to pass a careful examination in English grammar English composition. English litera- ture, algebra through quadratic equa tions, plane geometry, descriptive geography and the elements of phy- sical geography, especially the geog- raphy of the United States. United States history, the outlines of general history. The secretary of war is authorized to permit not exceeding four Fillipinos, to be designated one for each class, by the Philippine commission, to receive instruction at the United States Military academy at West Point; provided, That the Filli- pinos undergoing instruction, shall receive the same pay, allowances, and emOlumelts as are authorized by law for cadets at the Military academy appointed from the United States, to be paid out of the same ap- propriations; And provided further. That said Filipinos undergoing in- struetion on graduation shall be eligi- ble only to commissions in the Philip pie Scouts, serving for eight years, unless sooner discnarged.
 Course of Instructions-The course of instruction, which is quite thorough, requires for years, and is largely mathematical and profession al. The principal subjects taught are mathematics, English, French, draw ing, drill regulations of all arms Of the service, natural and experimental philosophy, chemestry, chemicl pny slcs, mineralogy, geology, electricity, history, international constitutional, and military law, Spanish, civil and military engineering, art and science of war, and ordance and gunnety. About one-fourth of those appointed usually fail to pass the preliminary examinations, and but little over one half of the remainder are finally graduated. The discipline is very strict-even more so than in the army-and the enforcement of penal ties for offences is inflexible rather than severe. Academic duties begin September 1, and continue until June 4. Examinations are held in each De- cember and June, and cadets found proficient in studies and correct in conduct are given the particular standing in their class to which their merits entitle them, while those cadets deficient ia either conduct or studies are discharged
 From about the middle of June tc