The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-13
By f. d. JOHNS.

From the reading of section OF the
House hill as reported out OF the House
Committee on Military Affairs the work
ing out OF the Manchu law is not prov
ing satisfactory to the statesmen on
Capitol Hill. As it is construed. this sec
ton provides that majors may be re-
detailed to the staff corps for another
term without an intervening tour of duty
with the troops. Below the grade Of
major they are required to serve only
one year with the troops between dc
tails.
The MauChu idea originated with the
Gener1< STAFF. which had put it into
effect without seriously interfering with
the administration Of the affairs of the
army. 1t was recognized by the General
STAN that certain officers were serving
too long periods away from the troops
and policy was adopted BY which OIL
GERS were required TO serve at least two
out OF every six years with the troops.
Under extraordinary conditions eXceD-
tiOns were made by the General staff in
enforcing the rule. For instance, when
an officer was engaged in any particular
work he was allowed to complete Il he-
fore being ordered back to his regiment.
This was done frequently a matter Of
economy and was proving generally sat
isfaCtOry throughout the country.
But the Military Committee passed the
detached service law, which took away
from the War Department any discretion
In the matter, and officers are frequently
ordered back to their regiments, much
to the detriment of the service Now the
committee proposes to repeal at least d
part of the law and discriminate in favor
of the staff corps The section not only
repeats part of the detached service law,
but places premium on staff duty. Tn
der it the Secretary is authorized to dc
tail line officers TO the next higher grade
on the stan corps.
This is entirely contrary to the recent
reform in the administration Of the af-
fairs of the army All of the efforts Of
the War Department In recent years have
been directed in the opposite course. II
has been generally recognized that what
the army needs more than any other
thing is troop commanders. In some quar-
ters 1t has been urged that a premium
could be offered to officers who are will
ing to assume the burdens of the army
In serving with troops in the field.
II the army Is to furnish a large num-
Der OF officers to train citizen soldiers It
is apparent that an effort should be made
by the authorities to develop the highest
type of line officers. Officers should not
be discouraged in equipping themselves
for service in the field by offering
premiums 10 those who are seeking de-
tails with the stan corps. This section,
TO say the least, shows the Inconsistency
'of the House Committee on Military A.
fairs In the committee hearings the
members are constantly Directing to the
number Of officers that are on duty in
the War Department, but at the same
time they voted to report out legislation
which places a premium upon staf corps
duty. The provision also opens a way
for a re-establishment of the objection
able bureau system which was stamped
out when the detail system was adopted.
Officers Strain at Leash.
The Sixteenth Infantry is ready.
Get busy and send u.s." is the appeal
which came to Mai. W. s. Graves, sec
rotary of the General STAFF, in tele-
gram yesterday from his son. Sibley.
The younger Graves is a second lieu
tenant in the Sixteenth Infantry which
is stationed at Ell Paso. He graduated
from West Point last June. but evil
IDENTIFY wants to make as good a record
as his father.
First Lieut.. William \. Mccain,
nephew of Adjutant Gen. Mccain, OF
the army was In the thickest of the
fight at Columbus and as conse-
quence, Gen. Mccain read the official
reports of the engagement with alb
sorbtng interest. Gen. Mccain remark
ed that his nephew is a dandy soldier
and he always knewsthst he would