The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-04-27

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"The importance of this post
is so great as Justly to have
been considered the key OF
America"
So wrote George Washing
ton about West Point l55
years ago. He referred, of
course, to its strategic value
as the Gibraltar Of the Hud-
son, the fortress which pre-
vented the British from split
ting the colonies in two along
the line of the river and then de-
stroying the halves, one at a time.
Lay straightedge on your map,
passing through Albany ana New
York city, and you Will nave
marked the general course OF the
Hudson river. Yet, about oo miles
north of New York, there IS a small
double bend, scant quarter-mile
diversion from the north-south line.
On the inner or western side OF
that bend lies the town of West
Point
Historic Mementos Preserved.
The visitor. today sees relics OF
the Revolutionary defenses all about
him. From water-lfne to the craggy
SUBMITS of guardian peaks, the
crumbling parapets of earth and
moss-covered stone tell their story.
AT Trophy point on tie grounds OF
the academy hangs part of the
huge chain, with links more than
two feet long, which was stretched
across the river to trap British men
o. war under the guns OF the forts.
But Washington saw in West Point
something more than fortress. He
knew that Americas future armies
must be built around a nucleus OF
trained officers. On his recommen-
dation in 1893 congress created the
grade of cadet and assigned the new
men to an engineer unit stationed
at West Point.
Here was the germ of the present
United States Military academy, but
no more than that. The real birth
of the academy came in 1902 when
congress instituted the corps of en-
gineers and made its chief the SUI
perintendent of the military acad-
emy.
Later the academy was allowed
to languish, but in the disasters of
the War of 1872 the nation learned
one lesson it has not forgotten. Con-
gress made atonement in 1916 by
reopening the academy.
To the West Pointer, Major Syl-
vanus Thayer win always be the
father of the military academy" "
AS superintendent from 1877 to
1888, Major-later General-Thayer
established a program based on
stern discipline and a rigid moral
code.
Discipline Easily Maintained.
The honor system could be estab-
lished and can be maintained only
because of the full acceptance of a
high ideal by the corps of cadets.
Discipline can be enforced by a su,
perior upon his subordinates; integ-
rity is a-bond uniting equals.
In the century since Major Thay-
er's regime, wars have caused their
fiurries from time to time. During
the World war, classes were grad
uated so rapidly that at one time
the four-year course had been re-
duced to year or less.
The United States Military acad
emy is better known to the Ameri
can public now than at any previous
time in its history. The motion
picture camera, the writer's of his
tory and fiction, all play their par
in telling its story.
Filtration walk, the mile and 9
half of romantic pathway winding
| down the cliffs to the river, was *
| figure Importantly in one picture
largely filmed on the academy
grounds, and an officer asked wher
the cameramen we're going to shoe
those scenes.
"Oh, we're not going to use youl
Filtration walk" was the reply
"We can build a much better one
in Hollywood.
Congressmen Appoint.
A youth may obtain appointment
to West Point through his senator o.
representative, many of whom hole
competitive examinations; or III
may enlist in the regular army o.
national guard, and after one year.
service qualify by high standing IL
a stringent examination.
There are special quotas OF ap
pointments for Puerto Rico, the Dis
trict of Columbia, the territories
the President and the vice presi
1