New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-25
THE NEW ARMY BILL.
VIEWS OF AN ARMY OFFICER ON THE PRO
MOTION SCHEME.

VIEWS OF AN ARMY OFFICER ON THE PRO
MOTION SCHEME
The Army Officer" whose letter on the subject OF
Secretary Roots Army bill was printed In Inc
Tribune last Sunday has written another letter OH
the same subject, in the course or which ne says
The second main feature of Secretary Root $ PHI
affects line officers only and is the provision tha'
every third promotion to the grades OF Goo tina
sWorn board of ocars Of the arm in which the
v EXISTS s record to aa aef ceneS Of the
chosen; from these three names the PRESIDENT WI"
oG Pp EetH TO is now based on seniority
vSed the oeT This d so
so different from what we have always regarGeiu
edged ee rather staggered the Army The sacred and
time @ @ OF o who
given their life service to the country are 10 De
kept from reaping their just reward, etc.
WILL SEEM JUST TO OFFICERS.
I howev s the just to the
ment VIII seem and the more gooq S w are two
objections to the measure The first Is that some ne
the second md that it will increase the chance for in
reference by politicians 1t is no doubt true that
e coIoae GSsfd WY BY Senior they Would that
grade But viii not these be he m onr SINCE o
so com pSy ali interest their
simple elements Of parade ground drill? uo,.a.,on
Re whO Nv viii ib not mp q e of the o
in it, to WELD the enormous power for good or
defeat. that a Commanding officer has officers
continue nue. in their grades until they retire with
that be treating them fairly enough? The case of
a man who fails of promotion on account of physl-
fere asaSs and a'hrr pfo!ded FOR y
g ya MN hseo 10 go nt but man " on
of drink sloth, will not keep does he deserve
to be kept up by the good men steadily pushing him
THE CORRUPTION CRY"
The second objection to the plan for promotion
be passed by the boards in favor of those who
The fae against this sort of fear
the statement that you can never construct an
Government IS corrupt You simply must take the
and meet the fears of corruption best you can
The press and Pe@Pe VIII have 10 to- see @ that an in
may at any time depend is not made the tool OF
The English have board of high officers, with
the commander in chief chairman. 10 make the
without disturbing the bill Let the findings of the
Board OF os of the ID whG6 there G IS
eral of the heads OF the great bureaus of the War
Chairman. This Board would then make selection
and recommend i to the Pr, President such plan
plates that the President has time to do the WORK
ton and it would be safeguard against a weak
President War Secretary
younger than all those in his own who are
beat them all--he is bound to be the senior
colonel in his under the present plan. If the
corruption plan" of climbing should work he would
be entirely without the means of getting up under
the Secretary's bill So all in all he feels that his
personal chances much safer things are
now, but if he We're put his word of honor he
Secretary appear to him fair and for the best in
terests of the Government and the Army
In the past there has been little danger in our
going along In our old way. Our routine staff
met hods did well enough for peace, and the young
officers kept up the drill and target practice of the
men, so that while the Army knew nothing of the
practical working in peace even of a single brigade
in these important elementary matters of
the soldiers individual and preliminary training
had the best body of men brought together
of its size
A BREAKDOWN IN WAR.
But have by the best test
make that methods break down in war;
staff cannot keep up and older cannot
abdicate their power to the younger men. War will
not allow this as peace does.
1t seems, therefore the duty of all officers,
that the country has undertaken great responsible
tiles in the affairs of the world, to speak earnestly
and frankly about these things not of the past for
the sake of calling names-let bygones be bygones-
but for the purpose of having the highest talent
in the land take into consideration the faults
and to warn the people that unless they in
sist the correction of these faults they must
nerve themselves, in case of war with ordinarily
strong Power. for some great humilia tion if not
National disaster.