The Washington herald., 1916-01-30

I
civil war. OF all classes of citizens. both
civil and military. enabled them fully to
realize the desirability of what Is now
termed Preparedness, and such expert
ence rendered them better able mentally
TO discuss the subject from either the
theoretical or practical standpoint than
the citizens Of today. Under these cir
cum stances. combined with the belief i
am probably the only remaining person
familiar with efforts made In the dtrec-
tion of preparedness at that period by
high civil and military authorities, I feel
II is a duty TO make known their opinions
and efforts to establish action in ac-
cordance Herewith.
During the latter part of the civil war
II had become a general conviction that
the volunteer portion OF the army was
of superior material, but the delay in
molding II into effective soldiers was due
TO lack OF military knowledge and train
ing on the part OF both commissioned and
non-commissioned officers Of the orig
inal organizations; in fact, the erroneous
military conceptions of men toften OF
large civil experience in affairs) had en-
grated upon volunteer organizations
crude and ill-digested ideas OF mill
tary practices and duty, which like all
primitive impressions, future correct
knowledge and experience failed to Grad
tcate entirely.
Defects of system.
These inherent defects of our militia
system, resulting in great loss Of valu-
able lives, time, and prompt prepared
ness to meet an enemy, either foreign
or local. created in the minds of think
ing soldiers the idea that some radical
changes were required In our militia or
ganizations TO forestall their Inherent ex-
isting evils. To this end a scheme was
devised and submitted for suggestions
and revision TO experienced civil and mill
tary authorities, the final results being
approved by Cows. J. d. Cox and r. B.
Hayes 0atter President of the United
States. and Gems. George G. Mead. A.
Med. McCook, and others. The scheme
was as follows:
Each State was to have an academy
In which strict military discipline was TO
be maintained. From each school dis
trict one or more cadets, were to be Sc
lected from those students of highest
school record who presented themselves
as candidates for eadetships.
The academy was to be under a board
of visitors. of which the governor of the
State should be ex-officio president other
members being appointed from State dis
tricts. The superintendent was to be
man OF military experience. The COM
mandant also was to be a man of similar
qualifications. The officers were to be
either resigned, retired. or active officers
OF the United States army: The COM
pandant was to have in charge all
military discipline. including all psrsdes,
details. cadet quarters. etc. Company
commissioned and non on-commissioned off,
GERS were to be nominated from the
corps OF cadets. by the comamndsnt,
subject to approval by the superinten-
dent.
Two Cadets 20 Room.
Two cadets were to be assigned 20 a
room. and only such specified articles, as
in orders were to be allowed In the
quarters, all other baggage, etc, to be
stored in a room under charge OF a
quartermaster. The occupants OF a room
were to serve as room orderly each al
tarnate week On calls for chapel serv-
ice, meals, classes. other roll calls. etc,
cadets were to be formed on general
parade ground. rolls called, and the en-
bryO soldiers marched to their respective
duties and upon recall marched back
and dismissed under charge Of a de-
tailed orderly.
Instructors might or might not be Of
military experience but subject to de-
tail as: Officers OF the day to super
wise all roll calls. be present at chapel
service meals, and have general su-
pervision during his tour of duty. The
preparation of meals. laundry. care OF
! hospital, etc. were to be in charge Of
a matron.
The cadets. under charge of the COM
| mandant, during the last two months
of the academic year, were to go into
! camps, including a practice march.
; The course of instructions were to in
cIude the usual academic studies, also
physics, chemistry, drawing. and en-
nd
might be found advisable.
The institution was to have legal au-
thority to confer the various academic
degrees
To He Commissioned.
Upon the cadets graduation. the gov
ernor OF the State was to com mission
them second lieutenants in the State
militia, promotion therein being made
! each year as required by incoming cadet
| graduates until they should have served
at least one year as captains, then trans
ferred to a list subject to the call into
| service when necessary, and from which
list the governor was to select regi-
mental staff, and general officers of the
/ an established age were to be automati-
calIy retired. All officers were to re-
| Ceive pay only while under orders in
actual military services.
The general government was to
place, through the State official, such
proportion Of State allowance Of in
fantry, artillery, camp and other equip
ments as required by the academy; also
detail military inspectors to insure full
military concordance between the va
rious academies and the regular military
departments of the United States.
The original and approved plan en-
braced the following: In order to blend
! harmoniously the various State institu-
| tons It was proposed that the superin-
tendants OF these institutes should hold
annual meetings at the various locations
of the schools in the order OF the dates Of
academy organization, to discuss subjects
of common interest, with a view to a
course of action In harmony with each
other Furthermore, in view of same
idea, an exchange of professors was to
be arranged, also cadets, the latter to
prevent the growth of too narrow State
cliques among graduates.
Planned State Laws.
The scheme having been fully elab-
GRATED and approved, II was advisable
&c, Inf he