THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY. Appointments: Each congressional district and Territory-the District of Columbia and also Porto Rico-is entitled to have one cadet at the academy. Each State is also entitled to have two cadets from the State at large, and 40 are allowed from the United States at large. The law, however, provides that for six years, from July 1, 1910, whenever any cadet shall have finished three years of his course at the academy his successor may be admitted. The appointment from a congressional district is made upon the recommendation of the Representative in Congress from that district, and those from a state at large upon the recommendation of the Senators of the State. Similarly the appointment from a Territory is made upon recommendation of the Delegate in Congress and that from the District of Columbia upon the recommendation of the Commissioners of the District. Each person appointed must be an actual resident of the State, District, or Territory from which the appointment is made. The appointments from the United States at large are made by the President of the United States. Appointments are required by law to be made one year in advance of the date of admission, except in cases where by reason of death or other cause, a vacancy occurs which cannot be provided for by such appointment in advance. These vacancies are filled in time for the next ex amination. Two alternates are usually named for each candidate nominated and the alternate making the highest average is entitled to admission in oase of the failure of the candidate. Examinations: Examinations are held on the last Tuesday in April of each year before a board of army officers to be convened at such places as the War Department may designate. Candidates must appear for the physical and mental examination before such board. No candidate is admitted who is under 17 or over 22 years of age or less than 5' 4" in height at the age of 17, 5' 5" at the age of 18 and upward, or who is deformed, or afflicted with any disease or infirmity which would render him unfit for military service. Pay: The pay of a cadet is $600 per year and one ration per day, the total being $709.50. No cadet is permitted to receive money or any other supplies from home without the sanction of the superintendent. After graduation a cadet may be promoted and commissioned to the grade of second lieutenant in any arm or corps of the Army in which there may be a vacancy and if there is no vacancy he may be commissioned as an additional second lieutenant, with the nominal pay of a second lieutenant, until a vacancy occurs. These Observers at Stations B1 and B2, which may be a mile or more apart, note the angles made by the lines to enemy's ship and the base line. angles are telephoned to the plotting room, where the exact position of the ship and the corresponding elevation for the guns are determined. This elevation corrected for wind, tide, etc., is telephoned to the guns. THE MONROE DOCTRINE. The Monroe Doctrine was formulated by President Monroe in 1823, in agreement with Great Britain and in opposition to the designs of the Holy Alliance, which contemplated the partition of South America among the European Powers. President Monroe said: "In the discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for asserting as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by European Powers.*** We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European Power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the governments who have declared their independence and maintain it, and whose independence we have on great consideration and on just principles acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power, in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States. THE MORTAR ON ITS CARRIAGE HAULED BY AN AUTOMOBILE. THE LATTER CARRIES THE AMMUNITION. DEPARTMENT OF WAR. The Secretary of War is the head of the War Department and exercises personal supervision of all business relating to the military service. He performs such duties as are required of him by law or may be enjoined upon him by the President, and directs the management of all the bureaus, divisions and officers embraced in the department. Has supervision of the United States Military Academy at West Point and of military education in the Army. The principal duties of the General Staff Corps are given under the United States Army, page 397. DIVISION OF MILITIA AFFAIRS. The Division of Militia Affairs is vested with the transaction of business pertaining to the organized and unorganized militia of the United States, its jurisdiction embracing all administrative duties involving the armament, equipment, discipline, training, education and organization of the militia. MILITARY BUREAUS. The Adjutant General is charged with the duty of recording, authenticating, and communicating to troops and individuals in the military service all orders. instructions, and regulations issued by the Secretary of War; of managing the recruiting service; pension and other business connected with the Volunteer Armies. The Inspector-General inspects all military commands and stations, schools, fortifications, arsenals, armories, etc., under charge of or carried on by officers of the Army. The Quartermaster-General provides transportation for the Army; also clothing and equipage, horses, mules, etc., for the Army and militia; pays guides, spies and interpreters; is in charge of national cemeteries. The Corps of Engineers is charged with duties relating to the construction and repair of fortifications, works of defense, military roads and bridges, etc. The Ordnance Department provides, preserves, distributes, and accounts for every description of artillery, small arms and all the munitions of war which may be required for the fortresses of the country, the armies in the field, and the whole body of militia. The Chief Signal Corps Officer is charged with the supervision of all military signal duties, including telegraph and telephone apparatus and the necessary meteorological instruments for use on target ranges and other military uses, and all other duties pertaining to military signaling, including aeroplanes. |