WEST POINT, a national military post on a 3,500 ac. reserva tion on the west bank of the Hudson river in Orange county, N.Y., U.S.A., so m. N. of New York city. The West Shore railway, the Hudson River Day Line and the Storm King highway all serve West Point.
The authorized strength (1928) of the corps of cadets is By the acts of Congress approved on May 4, 1916 and June 8, 1926, cadets may be appointed from the following sources: four from each State at large, two from each congressional district, two from each Territory, four from the District of Columbia, two natives of Porto Rico, 122 from the United States at large and 18o from among the enlisted men of the regular army and National Guard. Four Filipinos are also authorized, but they may be commissioned only in the Philippine scouts.
There are two methods of meeting the educational requirements for admission to the Military academy: By passing an entrance examination or by submitting a satisfactory educational certificate from an institution accredited by the Military academy. Phys ically, the candidate must be at least 5 ft. 4 in. tall, of sound body and free from any disorder of an infectious or immoral character. Upon admission each cadet takes an oath of allegiance to his country and agrees to serve in the U.S. army for eight years unless sooner released by proper authority.
The basis of military training at West Point is discipline. Cadets are taught absolute and unquestioned obedience. The training is progressive, from the simplest duties of the soldier to the com mand of small combat units under simulated war conditions. Ele mentary training in all branches of the service is given to all men, but no arm of the service is emphasized. The military training
aims to develop leadership. With the exception of drills after classes in autumn and spring months, and the study of minor tactics during the school year, no other military work is given dur ing the academic year. The summer is devoted entirely to military training; then the first, or senior class, goes to Ft. Monroe, Va., where it fires fixed and mobile long-range guns. Nearby, at Ft. Eustis, these cadets fire light artillery and at Langley field they study aeronautics and actually pilot planes.
The West Point system of training aims to balance the develop ment of body, mind and character. Athletic teams represent the academy in competition with other colleges in football, basketball, baseball, track, lacrosse, cross-country running, hockey, tennis, golf, swimming, boxing, wrestling, fencing, rifle and pistol shooting, soccer and polo. Eighty per cent of the upper classmen are members of some corps team.
All cadets take the same technical course, which is rigorously thorough rather than extremely difficult. Mathematics is stressed more than any other subject. The other subjects covered are English, French, surveying, tactics, drawing, history, chemistry, natural and experimental philosophy, Spanish, engineering, ord nance and gunnery, economics, government, hygiene, military art and military law.
With the majestic Hudson on one side and graceful mountain ranges in the background, the site of the Military academy is one of the most beautiful spots to be found anywhere. The Gothic buildings of native grey stone seem to be a part of their natural surroundings. The riding hall is one of the largest in the world. The library, built in 1841, contained 120,000 vols. in 1928 and many rare manuscripts, maps and trophies. Here are some original paintings by Stuart and Sully and sketches by Whistler. Here also are memorials to former cadets, James McNeill Whistler and Edgar Allan Poe. Cullum Memorial hall, completed in 1899, re sembles the second Erechtheum which stood on the Acropolis B.c.). The new Cadet chapel, completed in 1910, is the most beautiful building at West Point.