Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-31
HONOLULU Will
BEAFFECTEDBY,
Army increase
CONTINUED from page one)

the required number The strength
of those regiments was So and while
the new regiments we're being organ
lied the old regiments were almost
depleted by discharges and other
causes, with no recruits coming in,
There are many questions being
asked in the service today with refer
ence to the proposed formation of new
organizations. In 1901 the volun-
teer army had just been mustered out
and the officers were allowed to come
into the regular service after passing
examination and many vacancies were
filled in this way. The ranks were
filled with men who had had previous
service in the volunteers and had
gotten the military fever. but today
we have no such source from which
to draw and the question is being
viewed from all angles and with some
peculiar solutions.
II there are 80 regiments added 1t
would mean an increase of 30 colo
nels, 80 observation-disclosures, 80 majors,
$50 captains. $50 first lieutenants, $50
second lieutenants. This will promote
all of the first lieutenants and 60 OF
the second lieutenants to the grade OF
captain, provided these vacancies are
not filled in part by other sources.
"By other sources" is the bugaboO Of,
those now in line for promotion as IT
may mean several things not pleasant
to anticipate; for instance, many OF
the created vacancies might be filled
by officers who have been put on the
retired list and have entirely recover.
ed from their ailments and, while
they are considered among the relics,
they will in many instances be able
10 "come back" and will make a big
cut in the number of files to be filled.
II this should come to pass 1t would
mean that captains who retired in 80
and earlier would return to the array
colonels and many lieu
who retired before SO
would be commissioned in the higher
grades in the regiment. This is rath-
or a pessimistic view of the situation
and there is only the faintest posi-
bility that this method OF recruiting
the commissioned personnel win be
adopted.
There are other sources which sug,
gest themselves and while they are
remote. they are nevertheless adapt
able. in way. There are many Off
GERS in the organized militia who have
made a most careful study of things
military and possess all of the re-
ouirements. of good officers, but these
officers, as rule. are too old for the
grade of second lieutenant and It
would be grossly unfair to have them
put above officers in the service who
have made 1t their calling and have
devoted years of study and training
for their life work.
Filling the grade of lieutenant will
not be such great problem as there
are now more second lieutenants than
and none of the military
schools were given vacancies for their
graduates this year on account OF the
There is not a military
school in the United States that could
turn out from one to dozen men
who would with proper training be-
come good officers, and there are
about $50 military schools and col
leges in the United States.
The greatest difficulty in carrying
out such an undertaking OF this kind
Is caused by the almost complete ig-l
Of our civil population as to-
the reason for the need Of any army
1t all and of what an army is com.
posed.
The berth of an officer is looked
upon as an idle pastime and life OF
luxury and ease. This was true In
the earlier centuries and il must be
admitted was true in the American
army few decades ago, but today 1t
Is a life of hardships and discomforts
we'll paid for up to certain point,
and that Is the end Within the past
year there have been more, resigna.
tons than in any year since the army
was organized.
When we speak of an increase in
the army it means more than an In
crease in men in infantry, cavalry and
field artillery; there are all of the
braches to be filled and
out to keep the newly Great
ed divisions in shape. Six regiments
Of infantry on Oahu will mean an adj
1ifion of about 80 surgeons, two brig
an aeroplane squadron,
new store houses, new quarters for
troops, new hospitals, additional trans
portation and a proportionate increase
in everything pertaining to the mill
tary.
With an increase in the regulars
and the organization Of proposed bat
talon of Hawaiians along the lines
Of the Porto Ricans, Oahu is to be