New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-12

candidates have had the benefit OF
previous military experience of an ex-
ceptional nature. They are Just what
the authors of the course intended to
make them: potential commanders in
the rough, in the very rough, consid-
ering the frills and nicetles that finish
and Turkish off the cadets training at
West Point. They are willing men Of
marked ability and a natural aptitude
for military leadership, hardened to
endure any amount of physical exer-
ton, and grounded solidly in the basic
essentials of the fighters art.
One of the first concerns Of the camp
was TO spot men with soldier stuff born
in them. Then they were given a rush
knockdown TO the a, b, c's of the
! soldiers trade in which no attempt was
made to educate or train leaders of
large units. Every man was taught
the problems of the smaller units
! squads, platoons, companies, batteries
and troops; few progressed to bat
tslions and squadrons. But the chief
aim was to give the candidate, fresh
from civilian life, the military point Of
view; teach him 20 speak the military
language and to think In terms Of mill
tary science.
Prepared for Their Lessons
This has been done The issues and
problems Of civilian life seem far be-
hind these veterans of three months of
night and day training. Their minds
have been prepared TO receive the les
sons and solve the problems that will
present themselves in the environments
of the National Army. There they
down their throats while at Piattsburg.
Major Stewart says the first two or
three months with the National Army
should demonstrate the fitness or un-
fitness Of the Plattsburgers for ulti-
mate leadership on fields Of fire.
1--WE have made good and the three
months officers training camp policy
has made good" declared Major
Stewart, land we are going to turn out
next Tuesday men perfectly capable of
going into the concentration camps OF
the National Army and putting the raw
material there through the first two OF
three months training and doing it
we'll. From that time on the success
of the graduates of this school depends
upon each individuals ability TO meet
and master the new problems that will
arise. Wa have given him the bare
formula here. He must learn Of his
own initiative to apply II TO the differ
ent combinations of circumstances that
develop. To this end officers schools
and conferences for the graduates OF
these camps will be continued in the
National Army.
obviously il was not within our
power 20 teach these men all it takes
them four years to impart to much
smaller numbers at West Point. We
lust gave them the scenario. They
must All In the detail themselves. Re-
fnements were hurdled, but the funda-
mentals, the bedrock requirements OF
the fighting leaders calling, were
stripped from the curriculum Of the
trained ofieer and administered in
staggering doses and with lightning
aBut IL the sam. indoctrination Of
spirit and method practised ut this
camp Is continued in the division OF
the National Army these men go TO
officer. there is no reason why In six
months time that division cannot be
the most efficient fighting force Amer
lea has ever produced in anything like
the same period OF time.
"Conseripts training under these men
should learn without confusion or mis-
understanding, because their officers
will all speak the Same military Ian
guage and think In the same military
terms. Take any two men from this
camp-one from the 9th New England
Company, say, and the other from the
Ist New York. You will find them dis
cussinR things in the same way and IN
IN. same terms. Their processes OF
reasoning are similar. They got their
l.t.,,, sfftor from n eomrnob sourcs and