Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-07
OFFICERS OF VOLUNTEER TROOPS
nv FREDERIC J.uAsI,I

WASHINGTON. y. c.. July 8.-With
the certainty OF considerable increase
In the regular army and tho possibility
OF general call for volunteers which
has existed for many weeks. there is
much public interest In the question
OF how these new troops will be Of
hcered. In the event o: n call for 4
large number OF men, commissioned Of
hcers AS we'll "a pr!vatcs ana noncoms
must be drawn from The civilian popu-
lation.
There are several provisions already
in operation bearing on the subject.
Under the term civilian" the regular
army man groups every ono who is not
regular army man. There arc hence
inherent classes of civilians, with diff
fcrcnt qualifications for the duties of
commissioned officers. ana such ouali-
ncations Will have great weight in the
final selections
At present there arc two possibil;-
ties Tor the civilian 10 obtain an army
commission. One OF these il his chance
lo' commission in the volunteers
should these be called for: the other
rs his chance for Il second licutcnancy
IN the regular army. Whether thcr.
VIII be any call for officers OF yolun-
tccrs depends OF course in the frs,
place on whether II will be finally
necessary to raise volunteer army:
and also on how that army IL raised
II the country decides to adop, Il state
volunteering system, then the APPOINT :
ment OF officers Will rest with the state
Governors; but n the volunteer force
~ FedNal body. raised by the M :
ton at large, tho qualifications OF the
applicant are passed on by boz I'd
composed Of army officers
Ihat tho latter method IS consid,r.d
probable. however. Is shown by the
iact that there are ALREADY many anpli-
cations on file with the War Depor,
mcht tor appointment as officers of
,oi"htccrs. The applicants arc divided
INTO three clas.ca-men from any walk
OF life who have successfully nass.5
'ne examination for volunteer commits
sion; graduates OF schools TO whirb
"lhcers OF the army are detailed -,
professors or military science. who have
oeGh recommended ns especially quail
ned; and officers aud enlisted ,nen 81,
the militia, former officers or cnii.,,.I
men of the regular army or the vol,,n-
,eers In previous wars, and others who
nave bech recommended By the hoard
OF oihccrs appointed to pass on mo
Iuahhcations OF the candidates. From
,neSf hS's the volunteer officers viii
c,cu shon!a the volunteer force
bc Federal body
inc applicants really divide ,ho,,
serves into the men with spcci:l mini
ihry qualifications and those v.ho,,
cIVllian record goes TO show Inn, tLn,.
VIII make efficient officers. The officers
ana men OF the National Cuard for
"nom provision Is made are practically
eiiihihated from the situation by the
senerai monliization OF the guard be-
lore any call for volunteers Men u.bo
nave received special trainInn in ar
credited military schools under army
oi'icers are classed separately, and with
thcm are clasSed college men who bovn
attehded two camps OF instruction for
coiieGc students and who have been
recommended by the camp conm,ndor.
Tor appointment
me candidates who have nassed tho
examinations for volunteer commissioners
are perhaps. the most representotivc
o'"9s' urdWh as they are from tho
general public" Tie time and Mace
LOT auch examinations are left to the
aiscrotion Of the Secretary of war.
In view Of the fact that there uo,,ld
be call for hundreds, If moi thom'
sands, OF officers should the call ever
go out Tor 100000 volunteers, the ma
ture OF thiS examination is arousiur
a good deal Of interest.
Inc examinations given to candidates
Tor commissions In the regular army.
~" ever, iHulcateS IN what such an
examination would consist. Since The
passage Of recently enacted legisla-
tion. there has been a chance for the
clVilian TO obtain Il second lieutcnacy-
the lowest commissioned officers rank
the regular army of the United
states. with the increases provided
for In that force, the prospects of
the civilian who wants a commission
arc proportionately brighter. though
ut best they are not comparable to
his chances for obtaining a similar
rank In the volunteers.
West Point First Source.
Tho standard source of army officers
is, of course. the military academy at
West Point. Any vacancies are filled
first from the graduating class Of the
academy, and If they occur after q;
date they are held open for
the next years class. After the Mil
itary Academy graduates, preference is
given to men who rise from the ranks
enlisted men who have qualified for
by passing the specified
mental and physical examinations.
Should there be any vacancies remain
Ing after these two classes have been
drawn upon, they are filled from the
lists OF civilian candidates who have
PASSED the proper examinations. Such
however, must be between
twcnty-one and twenty-seven years
old. unmarried. and citizens OF the
United States.