Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-12-10

men Of mediocre capacity who have but Q
snort s,an or t. time to serve No man should re-
highest rank in the army any more than
IN any other profession. 1t Is curious
should be SO often a failure on the part Of
the public and it's representatives to UNDER
STAND no the a, great need. from the standpoint
tents. The higher places should be given
to the most Deserving men without re-
gard to seniority: at least seniority should
De treated as only one consideration. In
the stress of modern Industrial compe-
hoae ne oT esud 4
, We're chosen simply on the ground that
they We're the Oldest people in IRIS employ
regards the army. and required BY law
for all grades except those Of general Of
ns me-, As matter of fact. all Of the best
officers .1' in The highest ranks OF the army
arc those HAD have attained their present
posltion Whossy or In part by process
or selection
extended so that they could consider gem
Graz or. uniltness 10 command for any cause.
IN order to secure a far more rigid en-
1orcement thin at present in the elimina-
tioE of officers FOR mental, physical or
,aemperamental disabilities. But this plan
Is recolnmended only If the congress does
not see fit tc provide what in my judg-
ment is far better; that is, for selection
n N promotion. and for elimination for age.
py certain age should be retired-for
instance. y man should not attain field
ram RAM ny the time he is IS he should. Of
eral officers should be selected as at pres
snt, ana s one-third OF the other. promo
selection to be made by the president or
the secretary Of war from, d list Of at
least asard tw9 candidates proposed for each
arm Of the service from which the pro-
motion is to be made: A bill is now be-
fore the congress having for its object to
s secure the promotion Of officers to va
Ilous grades AT reasonable ages through
q process of selection. by boards Of Of
,,S@hs or the least efficiens for retirement
upon length of service. The bin, although
not accomplishing, E. all that should DO
and earnestly recommend Its passage
or that OF more completely effective
The cavalry arm should be reorgantzed
upon modern Lines. This is an arm in
WI Whifh i is ps,euliarly necessary that the
airy Is much more dfs ain o to forms ns t Gax
infantry and it should be kept UP to the
maximum both in efficiency and in
strength. for il cannot be made in
hurry. A present both infantry and ar
ttllery arc too few in number for our
needs Especial attention should be paid
lished. AS things are now. the average
sodiet has far TOO much labor OF nom
miiltafy character TO perform.
National Guard.
t,on,I S.' s'ig ~ uls , hiintla, tne ma
tho army a.. l, ,s - ' -. ~, aiGorRora1ea with
It behooyes the government TO do every
its .f,,,.iencv Is -. ~ power 10 PerIect
Instruction and ofherwsa .iiah ,,,e,r i Iss
orally eral.i than heretofore; The continuous
officers will he essenti,l -, rh; Suaal
ton Such officers ,nilst IN snoniaii,,
trained at service schools best tn nna1ify
them as Instructors Of Ib,. Natinnai
Guard But the detailing az officers for
training at the service Schools and for
duty with the National Guard entails de-
taching them from their regiments which
are already greatly deplete.l by detach-
ment OF officers for assignment to duties
prescribed by acts OF the congress
A bill is now pending before the con-
gress creating number of extra officers
in the army, which f passed as it ought
10 be-, will enable more officers to be-
trained az instructors OF National Guard
and assigned to that duty. In case of
war lt VIII be OF the utmost Importance
TO have a large number of trained officers
10 use TOT turn'ng raw levies into good
LOOPS
here saouid DC les'siailon TO provide
Ioip, Pr pan Tor orsaIMlZihg the great
p"ny or volunteers behind the regular
m, ILL, ure, na.lohai gnarn Wliei, war mas
ia ~ inssioIial assisa ai.c.s should be
S s .nose @no are ehneavorlng TO pro
Nv ,,,,,a ny ~. 81 . .i: our men. IN
se,,inU 20 ~ f.i IN VINE .sahs repre-
mn, I,.o $3.50 wr.' l.le rllie
.saif,st ali con,srs IN isi, ~ w, W. Woau
II ia ,,nS e., M r.'s.ana .,iis year,
hodl, az o,,r citi,an. si,oo. H.. ~. 60,
as fi,nn s..,ea ~, ~, ,na.. @ ~ ~ '.Is
eneournse ride practice am r1s We s sI"%H
wel MS in the miitarw ssrv a c'dsses a.
means in ol,r newer inns ON, ncyt
otherwise. may we be able 10 assist in
4,