Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-11-02
PLEBES IN WEST
POINT ARE $50
NEW CLASS HAS MORE FROM
THE RANKS OF THE ARMY
THAN EVER BEFORE.
ENTRANCE is FACILITATED
Seven Preparatory Schools Opened to
Coach Soldiers for the Entrance Ex-
amnations - Inducements Offered
for Enlistment in the Navy.
BY JAMES ?. HoRNApAY.

F1OF0INHOAIs
Washington-The new class of
''piebes" at the United States Military
academy at West Point is $50 strong
and includes the largest number of ap-
pointees from the ranks of the army
in the history of West Point, with 60
former buck privates enrolled Prior
TO 1916 soldiers could enter the mill
tary academy from the ranks only up
on appointment by their congressman.
but today recruits after one years
service with the colors, between nine
teen and twenty-five years of age.
who can pass the entrance eXamina-
ton, are eligible without political as
sistance
Major General Harris, the adiutant
general. announces that any young
high school graduate enlisting, whose
record is clear, may enter West Point
on the first entrance date after one
year of service. Enlisted men between
the ages Of seventeen and twenty-fOur
who have served honorably and faith
fully for not less than one year in the
armed forces of the United States or
the allied armies in the World war,
possessing the other requisite qualti-
cations. may be admitted on July !.
1921. The other enlisted candidates
must have served for one year in the
regular army prior to July !, 1921, and
be between the ages of nineteen and
twenty-five.
Seven Preparatory Schools.
Seven preparatory schools have
been opened, at Camp Dix, y. j..
Camp DeVens. Mass: Camp Lewis,
WASH; Camp Travis. Tex. and Camp
Gordon Ga, as we'll as in CoblenZ,
Germany, and Panama. for the pur-
pose of preparing soldiers for the en-
| trance examinations. These candi-
| dates also have the option of a three
| months furlough for special study and
coaching World war service applies
equally to young men who were draft
ed or enlisted and includes the Ma
| tional Guard as well as the army.
After 1921, age qualifications revert to
! the old limits of nineteen to twenty
| two for enlisted men. The West Point
course has been changed back to four
years instead of three.
The secretary of the navy has di-
rected special campaign to be under
| taken to fill the remaining vacancies
! in the ranks of the enlisted personnel
| of the navy by offering special induce
ments. Notwithstanding the fact that
| the navy is now recruiting more than
ever before, except in war time, the
realization that the navy man in peace
! time is the one who must be qualified
to defend the country in the first line
! of battle in war has resulted in the
navy's never conserving to lower the
high standards Of its men.
The secretary says that there are
| 9.5GS young men studying specialties
| in navy schools From these men will
| be drawn the skilled specialists uf the
navy. There are left 400 vacancies
/ in the schools. and these vacancies
| have been thrown opel to Young men
of the country in civil life. These
schools WIRE formerly kept for pre-
! vious service men. A new policy has
| also been developed 50 that those who
like foreign travel will be given oppor-
/ tunitieS to see the world.
The navy schools are paying special
attention TO physical development
| and the latest statistics show an aver
age gain Of ten pounds in weight in
four months and gratifying increases
in height and chest development.
New ChspIsins Appointed.
Major Genera! Harris announces
tie selection and appointment Of s!
new chaDlainS for the regular army
out OF $50 applicants who had served
| as officers throughout the war. This
is in conformity with the new reor-
ganization law providing for 240 chap
ains. or one to each 200 officers and
men. All the aSpiruntS were careful
~ examined by different boards of Of
ficers rs To their professional, mental
and physical qualifications, and the
survivors of this test We're then care
fully looked up from the standpoint
! of clerical fitness through the various
| GenOminatl0nal agencies. Inc clergy
men selected have been commissioned
with rank from July /, 1920.
After careful study by representa-
t!ves Of the war department, the pro
portion of the determinations was ten
| tatively fixed by Secretary of Wan
Baker at % per cent for the Roman
! Catholic church, 20 per cent for the
! Protestant churches and 3 per cent fol
adjustments that cannot he made or
strictly mathematical apporti0nment
In making the announcement. Gen
eral Harris adds: Under the new re-
! organization law full provision has
been made for the moral and spiritual
training Of our enlisted men. A new
corps of chapains has been created
Their entire effort viii be along the
lines Of character building and proper
guidance for the young soldiers under
their charge. coupled with the new
program of education and occupation
al training for the troops"
Stone Age League OF Nations.
After more than -four years OF
World war characterized by sucl