Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-12
State Service Placed on Same
Basis as That of Federal
Government
EXAMINATIONS ARE MORE RIGID
Those Applying For Commissions Are
Finding Out That They Must Show
Competency, and the Character OF
the Men Coming Before the Board
For Examinations Is Improved.
Special to Times-RepublIcan.

| Special to Times Republican.
| Des Moines Aug. 12.--If there should
soon come again the necessity for quick
mastering in Of volunteer regiments
| in the service of the United States,
/, Iowa would be able to demonstrate in
most satisfactory way the results of
the new militia law, which brings the
/ state organizations into close touch
with the regular army and places the
state service on exactly the same bas, $
as that of the federal government. The
work Of reorganizing the guard to con-
form fully to the regulations of the
war board is going on steadily and
surely. In few years the Iowa ma
tional guard will be as near perfect as
anything can be outside the regulars.
|
| An illustration of what is being dona
was given this week when a military
board examined dozen applicants for
commissions, including lieutenant
colonel and major. Even the COL
onels and the assistant adjutant gen.
erals submit to rigid examinations.
This system Of examination before
commissioning has been in vogue only
| about three years. 1t is a part of the
plan to place the guard on regular army
basis.
"The character of men who are COM
ing before the board for examination
for commissions is vastly improved"
said General James Rush Lincoln. pres
ident of the board, one of the finest
tacticians in the country. we are get
ting better officers. The men are find
ing out that oefore they can get COM
missions they must show competency.
! They prepare themselves for the exam
nations. Formerly they would come
here and depend on a pull to get them
thru. When a man elected to be an
officer is sent back for incompetency
he sees to it that next time he comes
UP he knows his work. We are max
ing the examinations little more rig
Id, for at first we had to be little
lenient. Now when the mon come up
for examination they are generally
those who are in every way worthy of
promotion. The whole guard is being
officered by men who have learned
what they have to do. And men are
not elected now who are incompetent.
Formerly almost any good fellow: could
be elected captain or lieutenant or 70
other position, but it is not so now.
The system is working transforma-
ton in the Iowa national guard and II
is coming up more nearly to regular
army standards. There is too much at
t,l, tn, ntl ipor not fcpt onr
manders to secure positions of respon-
sibiIity, for now we do not know when
these regiments may be taken bodily
into the volunteer service and see ac-
tual warfare. But Iowa is getting ready
to meet any emergency"
'"The value of thorough military
training is seen in the war in Asia
now" said General Lincoln. The Jap
anese are winning by reason of Superior
military training. They have thor
oughly modern army, officered by men
mostly Of European training. In both
their army and navy they have leaders
who have won their places by merit.
They have been placed at the head
because they have shown competency.
There is Admiral Togo. who was train
ed in naval warfare in England, and
the admiral who won at Chemulpo
was an Annapolis man. l regard Togo
as one of the greatest admirals of his
tory. And Japan ought to win. She
will dominate the eastern question and
no nation will dare deal with China
without reckoning with Japan. Japan
and China are our best friends in the
Orient and there is no reason why an
American should fear such an alliance.
for it would mean settled conditions
there"
The reverses of the Russians around
Port Arthur brings real satisfaction to
many who are watching the war from
afar. 1T looks to me like Russia is
getting what she well deserves" said
Henry Riegelman one of the best
known Jewish merchants of Des
Moines, democratic candidate for state
treasurer this year. The Japs seem
to have no fear and death has no ter |
rors for their army. The Russians |
have shown incompetency: but what |
else could you expect in an army from
n nation like the Russian empire? 1t |
is time for Russia to be checked at |
ment. blot on civilization. and the I
millions of that empire are in the dark
ness OF the middle ages. Some day
there will be regeneration thru a revo-
luton that will sweep the empire out |
of existence. But the lessonJapan is
giving the arrogant Russians is a good
one"
Des Moines is agitated over the via
duct question. The state railroad COM
mission at one time approved plans for
a viaduct in Des Moines, but many
changes have been made since then.
The commission Is also considering the
viaduct proposals. The
of location is an important one
In Des Moines. for opinions differ as to
which street should have the viaduct.