Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-15

:. Continued from page one)
pest, regimental. battalion and squad
ron Ron-commissioned staff officers
and for line sergeants, there seems to
be no hitch in the system, but for first
sergeants-that's the poser.
According to the new order. first
sergeants are transferred as such, and
cannot be busted" for six months aft,
er joining their new companies. Now
the position Of a first sergeant is pc,
culiar. He is half officer and half en-
listed man, being the intermediary not
only between the captain and the
company. but also between the compa.
ny and the captain His efficiency de.
ponds largely on his knowledge OF
the men and the noI-coms OF the com.
pany, and his understanding of the
captains methods and system. He is
the company commanders personal
appointee, anu it is question: how
the military machinery will work when
he is wished on" some new captain
with strange organization. I
On the other hand, there are many
army men who contend that as GER
tain peculiar qualifications are requir.
ed of good first sergeant, he could
make good with any outfit, and that
familiarity with the personnel Is a
very small factor of efficiency 49,.
As applied directly to Hawaii the
new order will mean the keeping al
department headquarters of two sep
arate service rosters, one for line SER
geants and first sergeants, and the
other for battalion. regimental and
post non-commissioned staff officers.
for transfer must be
made two months in advance. All this
means large addition to the paper
work, and opens the way for endless
complications. However, everyone is
agreed that the non-commissroned Of
ficers are getting only Justice. and
hope is expressed that the system will
work out well. !. r.. .....:-. e 4
Only draft of the new order has
been received, the date and number
being left blank. The order itself is
to be issued some time this month.
Following is an extract, so that the
exact wording OF the order may be-
understood by those whom it affects:
Il. On and after October /, 1915,
the tours of duty for officers and en-
listed men of the army will be two
years for those stationed in the Phil.
ippine Islands and three years for
those stationed in Hawaii and the Ca,
nal Zone, except that, under the law.
officers and enlisted men serving in
the Philippine Islands and Canal Zone,
may, at their own request be permit
ted to serve for longer period. Sim.
liar permission may. be extended to
those serving in Hawaii.
"2. Non-commissioned officers
above the grade of corporal who have
the tour specified will, up
on their own application. be transfer
red under the provisions Of paragraph
III, Army Regulations, without loss
Of rank or grade as established by.
their warrants; with non -commissioned
officers of >the same grade belonging
to organizations of the same. arm of
the service stationed within the con-.
tinental limits of the United States
Regimental, battalion and squadron
noncomnissioned staff officers and
first sergeants viii be transferred as
such. Except upon his own applica
ton or by sentence of a court-martial.
4 non-commissioned officer will not be
in grade while his application
rrFp t,-uV 81 10 rfofr ~
this order is pending nor during the
first six months of his service with
the organization to which he is trans
TERED. Non-commissioned officers to
be transferred to the Philippine Is
lands, Hawaii or the. Canal Zone will
be selected from those who have been
non-commissioned officers for six
months or more OF the rank and grade
In which transferred and who have
more than two years to serve upon
heir current enlistments. In no case,
however. will transfers to the Philip
pine Islands, Hawaii, or the Canal
Zone be made or recommended unless
physical fitness for tropical service
shall have been determined by physi-
cal examination by the post surgeon
,r other officer of the medical service;
lor. IL practicable. in any case where
he soldier has not served or resided
.hree years within the continental linn
is of the United States since compile
ion of his last period of Philippine
Hawaiian or Canal Zone service"
Monsarrat this morning.
who found the defendant guilty and