Evening star., 1923-03-25
LIEUT.. STEPHEN r. TILLMAN,
Adjutant Generals Department.

SIFfhESN
Adjutant Generals Department.
FRIDAY. March 16. the United
i States Military Academy, better
known as West Point, celebrated
it's 121st birthday. The school was
established on that date in 1902 and
was formally opened on July Of that
year.
Prior to the inauguration of the
academy. West Point was occupied
as military post from January 20,
1878 AS eafly as October 1, 1875.
Congress passed a resolution appoint
ing a committee TO prepare plans for
a military academy for the Army"
The result was the resolution of
June 20. 1777. providing for a corps
of invalids, TO serve as a military
school for young gentlemen previous
to their being appointed to marching
regiments" The corps was organized
in July OF that year.
Not only did our own leaders urge
creation Of a military academy. but
outsiders offered suggestions. Among
such was the letter of NJ. Floberque
de la Rocatelle, who wrote Gen.
George Washington under date of
August S, 1877. proposing to form a
school where the theory of military
art could be taught and the regiment
of artiilerists and engineers, with
that of the bombardiers and cannon
eers, could be stationed. The origin
of the academy involves French In
fiuence. Probably that Is due to the
fact that there were SO many French
officers with Washington. The corps
of fnvalids was, in fact, corps of
veterans: the academy was an ecole
dapplication.
West Point is in every way an
an institution to teach the science
and art Of war. The school sits en-
throned in the fastness of the legend
airy highlands. The cold, gray,
rugged rocks which form her bat
Elements are symbolic of the rigor Of
the discipline exacted Of her sons.
The storm clouds may lower above
her, but they break upon her crags
and peaks as hostile lines of battle
have so often broken upon the sword
points Of her heroic sons. Her abode
is incomparably beautiful at all hours
and in all seasons.
At one time her mountains re-
vertebrate and her plains tremble with
the thunder Of guns, as their volleys
rend the air in mimic warfare. At
another time stiffness rules her camp.
The snowy whiteness OF her tents
glistens in the silver light of a mid
summer moon. the prevailing silence
is broken only by the cadenced foot
fall of her trusty sentinels or the rip
pling waters Of the noble stream which
flows at her base. bearing to the sea
those great argosies of commerce
which measure a nations material
prosperity.
When our ancestors threw down the
gauntlet to the mother country and
resolved to form a government Of
their own, able leaders were found
who had gained valuable experience
in battle with savage tribes and in
the French and Indian. wars. but
there was a total lack Of officers who
had received military education.
Drill masters for our troops were
eagerly sought among the trained
soldiers Of Europe.
This need led our statesmen. at an
early date, to consider the question
officers Of our future armies. These
leaders had in mind the gem of
washington's farewell address, where
he formulated the memorable maxim
in the words, ITO be prepared for war
is one Of the most effectual means Of
preserving peace"
1t was the good fortune Of the Mill
tary Academy that its very inception
| found favor in the eyes of the great
| infancy and early growth of the re-
public. That it's establishment should
have been proposed and advocated by
the first President Of our country as
sociates with 1t the name Of Wash
ington. and is an incentive to the
patriotism and devotion to duty of
| its children.
The present permanent academy,
founded in 1902, had in the class of
that year but two cadets. During the
ten years that followed the average
number was twenty. The instruction
was then as meager as the ration,
and this newborn child was so
poorly cared for that it was scarcely
provided with decent swaddling
clothes. In fact, the necessity Of the
school came to be seriously ques-
toned
The golden age of the academy,
however, began with the advent, as
superintendent, of soldier who
seemed especially created for the po-
sition, who has not unjustly been
crowned with the title of father of
tho e'academys-Maj. Sylyanus rThayer.