The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-07-11
THE GERMAN STAFF SYSTEM.
WILL BE ADOPTED HERE IN ALL
ESSENTIAL POINTS.
The Old Plan Of Gaining STAG Appoint
rnsnt b. Fsvoritikzz VIII be
Done Away with.

Tor his wlsh 70 reoTgauize the arms
STAFF upon a better plan. it seems time
ly TO recall the organization OF The
German general staff, after which. it is
stated Mr. Root drafted his bill There
is no question that some radical
changes wil have 20 b. made in our
staff Organization There is some ten
dency under the existing system. 70.
officers Of the STAFF 20 become narrowed
in their views. and hence. unwilling to
adopt measures Of truly modern as
pect.
In Germany the military schools Of
fer extraordinary opportunities for the
education Of youth FOR a military life:
we do not believe. however. that their
schools are In ans particular superior
10 West Point There are Several ways
In which a youth may obtain a COM
mission In the German army. As a rule
be first goes to what is known as the
military preparatory schools. These
schools ara not open 10 all. but It is
not difficult 10 obtain admission. sons
% officers who cannot pay for a mill
taTy education. are allowed 20 attend
free Of charge. and 10 others the nomi-
nal sum Of SEQ a year is charged for
tuition. clothing and board. IL does not
follow that a youth who attends one OF
these schools VIII enter the army.
When he has successfully passed
through the highest class but one lac
receives "a certificate which entities
him 10 continue his military education
or TO enter a university and study lit
eraIure and science as he may elect II
the young man desires 10 obtain a posi- I
ton in the army Of Germany he has I
two roads open 90 him after passing to 1
the next higher class. II he remains at 4
the school for "A year longer and passes !
the examinations which are by the /
way. very severe. he is entitled to 4 /
commission. He has the option in place /
OF this additional year of being assign
ed To a regiment as a non-commis-
stoned officer. and al the end OF six
months Of going to the var school for
nine months further study. after which
he is examined. and. II successful. com
missioned This shows through what
severe training the young man has to
pass prior 10 obtaining the lowest com
mission ia the line
To get into the general staff OF the
German army an officer has TO show
that he has exceptional military ability
and is required 20 hand in an essay
dealing with a question Of purely mill
tary character These essays are care.
fully gone over. FIRST by the colonel OF
the regiment who sends the best to |
The division commander who. in turn.
forwards the best 20 the commander |
)f the army corps. II may be stated as
q general rule that after an officer in
he German army has seen from four 10
i've years service he applies for adj ]
mission to the staff. Two more special
Essays have 20 be written by the appli-
ant upon subjects chosen for the occa-
lion, One of these is upon a military
subject and the other upon subject
which would tend Ia show the writer's 2
of current affairs
Each year about 500 officers apply for
omission 10 the military academy, and
II these only 1873 are selected After
taying nine months at the military
academy. a severe examination is
owen The unsuccessful are returned
o their old regiments. and those who
ave been so far successful are assign
q temporarily 10 another regiment in
mother arm OF the service.
Thus officers of the infantry serve
nnually in the artillery for a few
Months and officers of the cavalry go to
he pioneers. After this service the T
uccessful officers return 10 the mill
AIRY academy for their second years
curse and again prepare for an exami-
alton. which weeds out many more
his process is repeated for the third
me Those officers who are successful
uring the three years are at the eXpi.
alton of that time granted years J
ave. during which time they are eX-
sCted TO travel in another country
nd learn the language as well as the
ilitary systems employed there At
le expiration OF the leave the officer
turns TO his own regiment. and afteE-I> n
years service he is at last called TO
le general stan for temporary duty
in the stan a year. he re-
rms 10 his regiment with the hope M
at be will be again called back the 8,
cond time, and OF these only about ~
le-third remain permanently. Those
lected for permanent duty in the
an OF the German army are commits ga
nned as captains, but their promotion Ia
exceedingly rapid. The general staff
fcers move within very select cir
e-ihe brains OF the army as IL
ere. In due time every officer of the ~
,neTai stat returns To the front with
nix much higher than that held by his al
a contemporaries. and regains touch
it'll the line.
II viii thus be seen how difficult il is
n an officer 10 get a stan position D
Id how nearly impossible il is for men -
be placed In that body through Ia
lritiSm. No mediocre man can get
BON the STAFF. and every member OF
e stsff is kept ia close touch with the r
ne OF the service. This system the i,
resent Secretary Of Mar is thoroughly
miliar with. and from il he has de-
we'd many az the salient features OF
S plan FOR the reorganization Of the -,
'galar army II the United States
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