The Times has been publishing a series of letters on
the American Army, from which it appears that West Point, the Sandhurst and Woolwich of that Army, is in admirable order. The officers are practically picked by competitive examination in the great schools of each State, and the instruction offered is almost too complete, the brains of the cadets being taxed to the uttermost. The discipline is perfect and the practice of "hazing" or bullying, which was once its weakest point, has been thoroughly eradicated. About one-fourth of the students drop through annually, either because the training is too severe, or because the instructors think that particular cadets will never make good officers. The most marked fact about West Point is, however, its entire exemption from political influences. The politicans do not appoint nor can they remove any cadet, and if they attempt at any time to interfere they are simply disregarded. West Point, in fact, has gained the confidence of the people, and popular favour enables its managers to pursue their own course. The result is a splendid body of officers, more like our own Royal Engineers than anything else, with only one fault, if it be a fault, that they are perhaps a little too much above the volunteer officers upon whom in the case of a sudden call to arms the Republic must rely. The system seems to need a little more expan- sibility.
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