The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-07
TAKE PULL OUT
Of THE NATIONS
TWO ACADEMIES
Present System of Appoint
ment Will Not Do Says
s Baker.
IA WAR OFFICE REPORT
secretary Tells About Mo-
Utilization of the Ma
tional Guard.
A WAR OFFICE REPORT
tBy Associntod rrc--C

ri tBy Associated prcssN
WASHINGTON. Dec. G.-E'icient
military organization Of the nation de.
mands abandonment OF the present
\ system OF selecting candidates for ad
mission to the Military Academy. Sec.
rotary Baker declares in his annual
{, report, made public today Instead of
having the President and members of
Congress designate students to take
the entrance examinations. the Score.
tary urges that preparatory schools
be established by the government and
y graduates Of these institutions who
show the greatest fitness be further
trained at West Point or Annapolis.
ut seems likely" MIR. Baker says.
that schools OF this sort would spread
the field OF selection ideally over the
country and make the cadets at West
Point and midshipmen at Annapolis
bodies Of young men selected by a
demonstration of their special apti.
{ tude for the pursuit of military ser.
vice"
Applying his suggestion. he adds:
1.-THE method OF selection of cadets
for West Point has for years consist.
ed of designation by the President.
Senators and Representatives with ex.
animation as n prerequisite 10 accep.
lance; but we are learning daily that
z a nation efficiently organized from a
military point of view must of neCcs.
sity be efficiently organized industrial.
~. We are learning also that the ideal
military preparation OF any country
is one which is readily expanded IN
an emergency so rs TO inCluta great
numbers Of men In the industrial and
commercial life of the nation who have
had enough preliminary training to
make them convertible nv brief adj.
ditional training into officers. Should
Z the United States ever be called upon
to meet great military emergency
large army would have to he sustain.
ed and supported by highly co.Or
dinated industrial system. There
should therefore he in the country at
all times great body Of men trained
as mechanics, whose places in such
an emergency would he not in the
I ranks of the fighting forces but at the
lathes and FORCES from which the am.
munition supply Of the army must he
drawn.
II venture to believe that if the Fed.
eral government We're to establish in
Q number OF places throughout the
country schools preparatory to the
Military Academy at West Point and
the Naval Academy at Annapolis. in
which the rudimcntS of n sound cdu.
cation, the elements of mechanical
skill, the principles of business GO.
ordination and the beginnings Of mill.
tary science were taught. these schools
would develop the natural aptiturcs
OF the students in such way as tn
! supply those flttest by temperament
I and talent to pursue in the Military
Academy and the Naval Academy the
study Of military science; and Incl
dentally these schools would furnish
4 b great body of men returning to civil
life fitted by training either to respond
+ IN an emergency to call to the col.
ors or to take their places as civil!
soldiers in the service Of the govern.
ment in those industries and under.
takings fundamental to the successful
conduct of military operations.
1.-THE suggestion here made ought
not perhaps to be further elaborated
8 in this report, but | think 1t Will be-
apparent on reflection that no eXpend:-
ture in contemplation OF military
emergency would be more apt or help.
full than one which gave to $4,000 or
( 10000 young men the inspiration Of in.
dustrial education at the hands of the
government, indoCtrinated them with
the spirit Of service to their country.
3 and tablulated them SO that they
would be always available for either
! the military or industrial seIyic,
which their academic experience indi.
Gated most in accordance with their
/ aptitudes."
Mr.. Baker calls attention to the fact
that he did not take office until March
3 8, 1915, succeeding General Scott wEC
was secretary ad intrim after the res.
ignation OF Secretary Garrison. lie
reviews briefly the history Of the af.
fairs on the Mexican border beginning
4 with tho raid on Columbus. New McXi.
CO, and carrying it toward TO Novcm.
her 20, the date Of the report. On thai
( DIZZY, he says, there are still 1l0.00u
\ officers and men OF the National GauId
on the border in addition to approx
4 mately $4,000 members of the regular
army.
Under the sub.heading. THE present
situation" the report continues:
aS inc mere presence or this cnldrg-
ed force has served TO preserve peace
and protect life and property. Disturb
nnces by outlaws and bandits in North
ern Mexico have continued and rowing
bands Of various numbers have moved
through the territory, harrassing Next.
can forces and raidinG Mexican com.
munities, but they have not ventured
q an attack upon the people OF the Unit.
ed States. In the meantime the mill.
tia forces on the border have been
drilled, their organizations perfected.
and their personnel accustomed to life
IN camp in tho performance OF this
defensive duty"
The report goes at some longth into
the odd situation which was presented
Z when the National Guard was sum.
monied for Border duty. Reorganiza.
! ton of the force under the National
Defense Act was in progress but not