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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE

MILITARY ACADEMY.

24424-WAR 1917-VOL 1

-60

945

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
MILITARY ACADEMY.

HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, West Point, N. Y., June 30, 1917. From: The Superintendent, United States Military Academy, To: The Adjutant General of the Army.

By order from the War Department, dated June 2, 1917, paragraph 59, Special Orders No. 127, the undersigned assumed the duties of superintendent of the United States Military Academy on June 13, 1917, relieving Maj. Gen. (then Colonel) John Biddle. Owing to his relief and prompt departure, before the end of the academic year, Col. Biddle was unable to render a report. The last previous report from the superintendent of the academy was made by Maj. Gen. (then Colonel) C. P. Townsley, dated June 30, 1916.

The operations of the academy since that date to June 30, 1917, are shown pretty fully by the accompanying reports or extracts from the reports of the heads of departments, submitted by order of Col. Biddle, dated May 21. These reports also contain suggested modifications, improvements, etc., deemed desirable by the officers in charge of the respective departments.

The official personnel of the academy on June 30, 1916, and at the same date this year is shown on the list below:

Officers and others in prominent positions on duty at the academy.

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Assistant, detailed..

Commandant of cadets and tactical officers.

Master of the sword, instructor of military gymnastics and physical culture.

Instructors and other officers...

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Dental surgeons.

Medical Corps, instructors in military hygiene (Aug. 28 to Oct. 10).

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Number of officers relieved May and June for duty at training camps.

Retired, 1 professor, no successor appointed...

Relieved and no successors detailed.

On duty with troops....

Civilian instructor of Spanish, resigned...

42

10

1

55

THE CORPS OF CADETS.

The number of cadets under instruction at the military academy at the date of the last annual report was 762. Of this number 139 passed out by graduation on April 20. During the past academic year there have been about the usual number of cadets discharged for deficiency in studies, resignations, etc., as shown below: Discharged for deficiency in studies..

Resigned.

Died..
Dismissed.

24

Dropped..

The number of cadets admitted in June, 1917, was 1 357, which is the largest class in the history of the academy.

The status of the corps of cadets on June 30, 1917, was as shown in the following table:

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The following shows the number of cadets admitted to the fourth class by certificate and by mental examination as a result of the March examination. A number of cadets were admitted at various dates up to June 30, and because of the large number of qualified candidates as a result of the March examination no second examination was held:

Qualified mentally and physically and admitted.
Ill, to report as soon as physically able to do so.
Under age, to be admitted July 3, 1917...

Disqualified mentally, qualified physically.

Failed to report..

Qualified mentally, did not report for physical examination..
Qualified physically, withdrew from mental examination..

Withdrew...

Qualified alternates for whom no vacancies existed.

Qualified mentally and physically for admission, declined appointment.

Disqualified mentally and physically...

Qualified mentally, disqualified physically.

Qualified physically, declined to take mental examination..

Not permitted to take examination; late reporting...

Failed to complete examination..

Appointment canceled

Disqualified mentally, failed to report for physical examination.

Disqualified physically, withdrew from mental examination..

Declined appointment.

Declined to take examination, qualified physically..

Exempted from mental examination through inadvertence..

Total nominations....

1 By reason of late admissions this number will be somewhat increased.

357

394

310

16

16

81

59

29

1

1

2

1

1.315

Of the total number of qualified candidates up to June 30, 184 qualified at the mental examination and 173 were admitted on satisfactory certificates from accredited educational institutions under the provisions of General Orders, No. 19, War Department,

1915.

After the admission of the fourth class 102 vacancies still remained. In May last Col. William B. Gordon, head of the department of natural and experimental philosophy, having reached the age limit was under the operation of law retired from active service. Col. Gordon had filled the position for 16 years, besides having served 8 years as assistant professor in the same department before he became its head. During his 24 years service Col. Gordon did most excellent work. His latest work in the preparation of mechanical textbooks for use at the academy was of a very high order and will stand favorable comparison with that of the former able heads of that department. Many doubt the suitableness of Col. Gordon's later work to the necessities of cadets, thinking it too theoretical, difficult, and nonpractical. In justice to Col. Gordon it should be remembered that the same complaint has been held against the mechanical textbook of that department since 1856, and that Col. Gordon's teaching of the subject has been far more practical than that by either of his two predecessors since the above date; also, that in his treatment of the subject he has eliminated certain errors in the fundamental equations of mechanics which had escaped these predecessors and which greatly tend to simplification of the subject.

Col. Gordon's services as a member of the academic board were most valuable in many respects; uniquely so in providing a working mechanism for successfully operating academic exercises, with fairness to all departments as the classes increased in size and their duties in number and variety. After Col. Gordon's retirement Capt. Halsey Dunwoody, the senior assistant in the department, was in charge of the department for the remainder of the academic year. His report is included herewith.

BUILDINGS.

For several years past projects and estimates have been submitted to meet possible expansions of the academy. By act of Congress approved May 4, 1916, an increase in the number of cadets was authorized and directed. Since that act a board of officers was appointed for the purpose of considering and has reported as to the necessary buildings to meet compliance with the above act. This report was approved by the War Department and estimates to carry out the recommendations of the board were submitted to Congress. It is assumed that the approved program will be eventually carried At present the existing situation is that the present number of cadets (898) is slightly above the limit that the present facilities of the academy can accommodate in the manner heretofore accomplished and deemed necessary; this deficiency applies to both academic and military facilities, equipment, and material of all kinds used in cadet instruction, as well as to suitable spaces for camping and rooms for messing and lodging.

out.

The graduation of the first class, already ordered to take place on August 30 next, will reduce the number of cadets to about 750 at the

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