The San Francisco call., 1898-06-21
THE NEW SECOND LIEUTENANTS

| HE appointments of I05 young
 second leutenants in the regular army to fill
 the vacancies caused by the recent changes i'll the army organization seem to have been well made. The policy pursued in their selection was at any rate wisely adopted and if all the officers do not turn well, it will not be the fault of the system under which they were chosen
 When 1t was known that this large number of army appointments to be made strong pres sure brought by members of Congress upon the President and the War Department to obtain offices for their friends. There was danger that this pres sure might result in filling the army with a set of political appointees of no particular merit That danger has been avoided or overcome. Doubtless the recommendations of Congressmen had much to do with the choice of particular persons but under the rules adopted in making the selection every as- prant had to possess something of personal merit in order to be successful
 A large number of the men chosen are graduates of military colleges, of colleges having military instructors, and less than sixtyseven of such n stitutions represented in the list. These young men hail from all sections of the Union and have been trained and instructed under widely different methods. Some of them were honor men in their classes, and all of them types Of men out of whom efficient commanders may be made by exper- ence in army life
 The military colleges, however, have not furnished the only field from which the Government has found it advisable to draw its new officers. The useful ness of the National Guard as training school has been recognized and among the new appointees are a considerable number of men who have served in that organization. This is we'll deserved ftrbute to the guard and which will have the effect of increasing enlistments in it, and stimulating its mem bers fit themselves for possible promotions here after
 By far the most gratifying feature of the appoint ments, however, the selection of a considerable number of men for promotion from the ranks of the regular army itself. Nothing puts spirit and energy l into army like the hope of promotion from the ranks. Nothing that Napoleon ever said in all his eloquent addresses to his army had more effect in rousng their courage and inspiring them to action than his saying: Every French soldier carries a marshals baton in his knapsack." The young re- cruit of the imperial armies who knew that his com manding officers had risen from the ranks and that he himself had similar possible before him. fought with an ardor unknown to the men of the opposing armies, and carried the eagles of France victorious all Western Europe from the British Channel to the plains of Central Russia
 The infusion of new blood into the army by these appointments is said to be approved by the West Pointers themselves. The promise of good results from them is therefore excellent. The young men who about to enter the service as lieutenants have bright prospect before them and the nation relies upon them to attest by their fidelity to duty the wisdom of the Government in selecting them to perform it.