Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-10-12
FAYORS OSLERIzING ARMY
General Williams Advocates a Wedding.
Out Process.
CAPTAINS MUST RETIRE AT 40.
With q View Of Insurlng Steady Flow Of
Promotion 10 the Army He Recommends
the Enactment Of Legislation Providing
For Fixed Number Of Vacancies For Com.
missions Each Year.

Washington, D. c., (SpecialD.-Brig.-
Gen. Constant Williams, commander of
the Department of the Columbia, favors
the Oslcrizing OF the army.
In his annual report to the War De-
partmcnt, jus> made public, General
Williams recommends the gradual elm
ination from the service of all captains
over 40 years of age. He also recon-
mends that all colonies of the line, be-
fore being commissioned and assigned
to regiments, be examined as to their
physical, mental and moral condition,
and especially as to their "tempera-
mental fitness to command a personnel
consisting, on a war footing, OF I,5oo
or more officers and men
With regard to the compulsory retire
ment he says:
with a view of insurlng a steady
flow of promotion in the line OF the
army ! recommend the enactment OF
legislation providing for a fixed mini
mum number of vacancies for commits
sonS each year. to exceed in number the
class of military academy graduates,
pIuS Il iANu Hu''bSl pVi aiii'''' w P''
motions from the ranks, by an amount
that shall within limited number OF
years eliminate all captains of 40 or
more years OF age from the line OF the
army. These vacancies to be produced
by casualties incident to the service, re-
tlremcnts by the existing age limit, by
voluntary rcirementS under suitable re-
strictionS and by compulsory retirement
OF selected officers.
"When by such stimulation OF pro-
motion no captains OF 10 years OF age
remain in the line OF the army the eX-
cess of vacancies over the requirements
OF the military academy graduating
class, plus the fixed number OF promo
tions from the ranks, should bc so regu-
lated by means of the compulsory retire
ments that no officer should arrive at
the age of 40 while holding a captains
commission.
This would involve revision Of the
age limit ior graduates and enlisted
MEN promoted from the ranks, but ! am
convinced that this step is necessary,
General Williams says 1t is his opin-
ion that when officer, are just reaching
the commissioner career al 80 II is not
possible for them to reach the upper
grades with any reasonable expectation
OF being able to discharge their duties
with vigor and efficiency.
Concerning the cantecn, General Will
liams says:
"Aiter a trial covering mere than FIVE
years OF the practical working of the
Anti Canteen Law i, becomes more and
more evident that it is great mistake,
so far as the health, morality and dis
ciplinc of the soldier are concerned.
This is a most unusual and interest
ing question. for in it We find the union
Of the two most antagonlStic elements
in American society working hand III
hand against the best interests OF the
soldier. In the first place, We have the
great temperance society," the members
of which in this particular case, with
best possible intentions, are making a
serious mistake; and joined with them
in the agitation against the army can
teen are the producers of whisky and
their creatures, the saoonkeepers, who
make a livelihood by the sale OF alco-
holc drinks, often of the most unwhoe-
some and yillanous character