Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-01
Where Our Army
Officers Are Training
ny CASSIE MONCURE LYNE

The proposal recently submitted o.
having more than one United StateS
military academy, 50 that more men
might be yearly turned Oh, than tho
present capacity al West Point pc"-
nits. ha. aroused storm OF protests.
ia that there can be but one W.st
Point. with its traditions. II IS not
the quantity OF tho officers. but the
quality. which counts--no other in
stituton could have given 10 the >oun :
Try a Lee, Grant and Gocth:il.
Next TO West Point. ,ne Virginia
Military Institute takes historical pre-
"cdcnce. due u rho immortal n,ili,sry,
genius OF StoncWali Jack SSn. While
n" Citadel OF Charleston viii cNr,
rank third. from The tact >: her >nGe;S
opening the civil War by 'irin. on
the star o. the west"
The country at large has really very
!ii'lc inea Of thc training = Yea !.
y est Point graduate. II rests content
~ ~" know!sdS. tia, this United
states Military Academy turns out ntsr
like sherman. sheridan. Jefferson "a
Wis. Fitz Lee and scores If others that
have extended our republic wcStv ard
despite Indian warfare. l:n'TanC. TO
West Point il by appointmcnt-cacn
congressional district is entitled 10 :,
cadct--whilc every State is also al
lowed two cadets atl large. Two ca
dets are also appointed from the Dis
,rict Of Columbia. ana the President
has the right 10 appoint forty from
IN" United States ~ large urou his
own selection. The Secretary o. War
is also allowed to appoint four Eli
pino cadets. but after graduation, they
must serve for eight years in the
Philippine Scouts. they are not elig
ible as ranking officers IN tive United
states Army When other cadets grad
uate At West Point Thev are commits
f.-r,.., ntS tyt ~,
corps OF the army where th"r.' is y
vacancy. No candidate IS adu,itt..d -
the ademy under seventeen or oyer
twenty-five years Of age, Ills hejSnt
must also average five feet four inch-s.
MI cadets are physically examined
each May, and il disqualified t. con.
tinue the course. are discharged The
physical and mental eNaIr inatiults To-!
admission are cducationaliy much The
same as those requisite TO catcr The
Naval Academy, which DEMANDS also
a sound mind in a sound body. Acad
cmic duties are suspended usually
from June examinations TO August,
during which .ime tn. cadets go into
camp. where the. receiv,. practi al in
StructionS in military dlSC: 3lins. y
Christmas holiday is also allowed from
December - to January :. The pay
OF cadets is $500 - year. while the
cost OF the first uniform amounts to
and military engineering is confined
to the first class. and This tain II <
embraces "a scientific study Of masonry
structure. water supply and sewerage.
and the mechanics Of civil engineer .
ing, while the military course deals
with the art Of war. siege work aud
Notifications. Lectures are given on
military subjects. and about twenty
famous campaigns are STUDIED.
Visit Gettysbure
All cadets are taken TO Gettysburg.
10 familiarize them with. the ctfec,
Of topography on the employment Of
troops in the field. This department
has well-sclcctcd library OH the art
Of war as well as civil and military
engineering. There are over $4,000
maps. hooks and charts in the library
at West Point, TO which the cadets
have always free access.
waterxIiet Arsenal
West Pointers must also liz trained
in the construction OF aunnery. hence
are taken to the Waterviet Arsenal. as
well AZ the Ordnance Proving Ground
ut Sandy Hook. where the latest de
vclopmcnt in war materials are seen
Besides telcsraphy. military signaling
hygiene and camp sanitation. the fu
turc army officer has To learn labora-
tory work. drawing, foreign languages
international and constitutional law
The department Of tactics comprises
too numerous specifications and duties
herein to be enumerated.