Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Guardsmen Have Small Chance of
Getting in Regular Army.
SEW ORDERS ISSUED GY GEN. MILES
Are Not Calculated to Cement the Ties
That Should Connect Mtlitisnen and
Regulars But Were Somewhat Weak,
ened by the Dick Bill.

National guardsmen are not espe-
eially pleased with the new general or
ders which have been issued by Adju
tant General H. C, Corbin, by command
OF Lieutenant General N. A. Miles, U.
S. A., which provide for the selection
fer vacancies in the rank OF second
lieutenant of men from almost any
place but the national guard. The
Dick bill, it seems, has created dis.
ftfye between the regulars and the mi
litia, which in some instances grows
to personalities, as was the case in st.
Louis when the troops were there for
the dedication of the worlds fair
buildings, when militia captain treat,
ed regular army man of the same
rank to a severe drubbing for an in,
suit. The regulars. it seems, do not
feel that the militiamen are their
equals, even though the Dick bill does
declare for the guardsmen in no mild
terms, The new orders, which have
not yet been received in this city but
are expected daily refer chiefly to fill
ing vacancies in the grade of second
lieutenant, which vacancies may be
filed by appointment in the following
order: (14 From graduates of the Unit
ised States military academy: ~ from
enlisted men of the army whose fitness
for advancement shall have been de.
termined by competitive examination;
CD from civil life. This will occur
July each year
A soldier to be eligible must be a
citizen of the United States. unmarried
and between twenty-one and thirty
wears of age on the first day of Sep
TENDER of the year in which he applies
to enter the competition, physically
sound, of good moral character, and
must have served two years in the
regular volunteer forces; must be an
enlisted man of the regular army at
date of application
Each commander, as soon as posi-
Bile after March of each year, will
the preliminary examination of
who are legally qualified for this po-
sition of second lieutenant, with a
view to determine their eligibility for
the final examination. On September
i of each year the war department
will convene a board of five officers
before which those who have success
fully passed the departmental boards
win appear for final competitive ex-
animation with view of the selection
of those best qualified for appoint
ment TO the grade of second Iieuten.
ant in the army: the number so Sc
lected shall not exceed the number OF
vacancies remaining on July ! after
the graduating class Of the United
States Military academy has been
provided for.
Each enlisted man who successful
ly passes the final competitive exam
nation will II from the adjutant
general of the army a certificate of
eligibility for appointment TO the grade
of second lieutenant and viii be rec
commended for advancement in the or
der of merit as. determined by the fin
al competitive examination. An en-
listed man who has passed a depart
mental hoard but has failed TO be
found upon final competitive eXamina-
ton, may in the following year appear
for final examination, not being requir-
ed to pass a departmental board a sec
end time An applicant who twice
fails in his competitive examination to
obtain a certificate Of eligibility can
not again compete for appointment to
I the grade Of second lieutenant
All rights. and privileges arising from
a certificate of eligibility may be yacat-
ed by sentence of a court martial but
no soldier while holding the privileges
of a certificate shall be brought before
q garrison or regimental court martial
or summary court.