The times., 1899-07-03
omcers for the New Army.

What an ideal condition our War ONCE
will be shown to be in if the announced
rules for the selection of officers for the
new volunteer army are strictly and liter
ally followed,
1t is stated by authority" that in max
ing selections OF these officers the prefer
ence will be given as follows:
Firs,-oficers of the volunteers who distin-
guished themselves in action during the Spanish
second-0ficcrs of the Regular Army who have
earned, but have not yet received promotion for
conspicuous service at the front during the Span
ish var.
Third-volunteers Of the Spanish war who did
not get TO the front, but whose efficiency reports
while in camp show them to be competent to
command troops.
If these rules are followed without per-
sonal bias or political partisanship no ad-
verse criticism can be directed at the War
Office. Close compliance with them ought
TO give us volunteer force which will be
quite as effective fighting machine as the
Regular Army. The country learned from
the experience with the volunteer army
raised for the Spanish war that the great
need of the nation in a military crisis is
trained officers. Given these, and the
work of licking an army into shape is re-
dnced to the minimum. The records now
on file in the Office of Adjutant General
Corbin show that competent officers were
developed by service in the volunteer
army. 1t may not be going too far to
claim that, with natural aptitude for the
calling of the soldier, a great many of
these officers SO developed are quite as
capable to command small bodies of
troops as are officers who for many years
have been under the severe regimen and
discipline of the regular establishment. In
fact, it is not impossible that some volun-
teer officers are superior in point of ca
pacity and character to some regular Off
GERS.
Let us hope that considerations of this
nature will have due weight with the ap-
pointing powers in the War Department,
uninfuenced by the demands of place
seekers or the clamor of political leaders.
strict adherence to the rules announced
would con1ne the appointing powers to
the limits of the official records of officers
In the Adjutant Generals Office. It would
not permit them even to listen TO pleas
for this or that applicant made by politi-
cal influences of greater or less potency.
much less would it permit them to wait
hesitatingly upon the wishes of politicians
OF high or low degree before selecting and
announcing the list of officers for the new
volunteer army.
What a glorious surprise II would be TO
the cynical world If the War Office really
should go on about its business in this
emergency and apply only the test of merit
TO the selection of officers for the eight
or ten new regiments which it has been
definitely decided to formi What encour-
agement 1t would give to every man now
in the uniform OF the army or who con-
templates putting It on 10 do his level best
TO discharge his duty to the utmost limit
of hts capacity in the f1ll confidence that
by so doing he would be sure OF just re-
ward for meritorious and faithful service
despite the lack of political influence or
social prestigei
Before quitting this subject somehow
we are constrained to call attention TO
two selections of regimental commanders
the appointing powers in the War Office
are said to have made. One of these is
Col. Winfield T. Durbin. who commanded
the One Hundred and sixty-lrst In
diana Volunteer Infantry, recently
mustered out and which was raised
last July under the Presidents sec
ond call for troops. No biography of
Colonel Durbin would be complete unless
it contained the statement that he is suf-
hciently potent in the Republican politics
of Indiana to be that pivotal States rep
resentative in the Republican National
Committee. The other selection is Col
James s. Pettitt. This gentleman is al
officer in the Regular Army his grade be
ing that OF captain and his regiment the
First Infantry. He was fortunate enough
20 be In the good graees OF Ad1utant Gen
eral corbin at the outbreak of the war
with Spain and was given command OF
the Fourth United States Volunteer In
fantry, one of the so-cailed regiments of
immunes. Of which there we're ten. So
far as We know the nine other command
ing officers OF these regiments all of
whom belong TO the regular establish
ment, deported themselves quite as well
as did Colonel Pettitt. II this is true. the
rule being applied TO him now should also
be applied TO them II the War Office is
being governed by the Law 1t has an
nounced.
We DO not surround the names of