The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-31

District of Columbia......... |
Porto Rico..........."..'...
Philippine sisnds.. " .
UA $50
Total cadets .............,.......l 1890
There Ia nothing In the present en-
rance requirements that will hinder
their being easily arranged to At the
new condition. the mental and physi-
cal qualifications are practically the
same and age limits can be adjusted.
At present both West Point and
Annapolis begin their academic year
with a large number Of vacancies.
West Point began this year with
seventy-nine vacancies. Such a state
Of affairs will in all probability by
this plan cease to exist because OF the
large number Of appointments avail
able to those having the appointing
power.
Assuming then that 100 cadets will
each June enter the united service
school We may safely predict that not
more than 500 will qualify for the "
academies and that these will be
equally divided between military and
naval cadets. Thus each June 400. a
fully prepared battalion. will proceed
under orders to West Point and An
napolis and report for duty as third
class men with a ?5 per cent. chance
Of graduating.
The two academies will have on
stantiy within their walls a fun regi-
nlent OF cadets. n we'll balanced II
highly satisfactory condition for or
SANITATION. studies and drills and n
that will 60 far toward meeting the
! quota OF trained officers hat the ser
vices demand.
The combined graduates viii be
about $50: from these there should
be Immediately commissioned for ac-
tive service enough officers to Ill all
vacancies. save those allowed from the
ranks. in the line OF the army. navy
and marine corps. construction corps
Of the navy, pay corps of the navy and
United States coast guard. Those
graduates for whom no vacancies ex-
ist should be returned TO civil life, but
receive commissions as officers in the
reserves Of the army and navy, with
certain conditions hat need not here
be set forth.
II Is not n, all necessary that the
school he on the %seacoast: a prepon
deNnce Of reasons are against such 2
ocation, in fact IL should be on th'
great lakes, AT a place endowed will
ample sea room and n safe harbor
ON the great lakes IL would be re
moved from the region Of storms tina
so often visit the Atlantic coast aN'
interfere with steamship drills and boa
practice, Il would remove 1t from
frequent focs and eleminate the an
: noyance of the tides.
These three potent advantages woul'
very considerably reduce thc cost O
construction OF the plant. as well as tn
cost Of maintenance and operating O
the plant after construction. an econ
omy well worthy of consideration.
A site which above all other
possesses the characteristics demande
has been provided by nature and !
available at the western end OF LAX
Erie in the Bay OF Sandusky. Tina
site il not near a large city. the paren
schools. nor Washington, three pos
tive advantages. II is nearer tn
centre OF population of the countr
than any other feasible location an
easily accessible by railroad and lax
steamers.
Camp Perry, the finest rife rams
in the United States, is on the shor
of the bay. Within the bay IL amp
sea room and smooth water Of sufi
cient depth for all purposes required.
UNder the head Of equipment, built
: ings, &C.. We will only call attention I
a few points to show that this plan
. establishing a united service prepars
r tory school means the saving of mil
ions over any plan that contemplate
r new compete military academies {
greatly charging West Point and Al
napolis,
: To enlar ge West Point or Annapol
sufficiently would necessitate the ere'
n ton Of buildings that would retain II
n same architectural scheme now eXis
r ing. Such an undertaking would II
volve great expense. Buildings Of an
:, other character would hopelessly d.
. stroy the plan. symmetry and beau,
z of both academies.
e The buildings required would
: few. for none Of the expensive par
r Of the complete academy Is needle
such as heavy gun mounts. observi
. tons. riding school, laboratories, &
Q For the same reasons the number
quarters to house the superintendel
r and the corps Of Instructors and teacl
ers and enlisted men will be- great
reduced.
The above briefy outlined plan +
n a united service preparatory school
a suggestion that aims:
~ First--To preserve the prestige
70 N two great academies. The Seer
n tary Of War, Lindley NJ, Garrison, in h
d address to the members of the grad,
r. ating class at West Point in June sal,
" You at the Point here are permeat'
: ; with traditions Of the highest impol
- The unwritten part Of your curriculu
4, that uphtch n,,t, It's haSt rtar,u an.