The Washington herald., 1916-04-13
BY f. b. JOHNS.


Speaking for the Infantry Association,
the Infantry Journal will in its next is
sue propose a plan for the equalizat ton
of promotion which will fix the number
Of detached officers that can be used in
equalizing promotion at 60 per cent.
While the infantry will not be seriously
affected by any of the numerous provi-
sions that are pending in Congress, its
organ insists that this legislation is OF
vital Importance in providing for an
adequate army.
Since the commencement OF the pres
ent movement for better national de-
fense," says the Journal, the infantry
has not concerned itself with the ques-
tion of promotion. Our attitude on this
subject has not been due to a failure to
appreciate its importance nor its great
influence on the present and future ef-
ficiency of the army. We have, how
ever, considered that the injection OF the
promotion question into a discussion
which involves great issues of national
military policy could not fail TO create
the impression that officers of the army
are unduly interested in the promotion
which will accrue an incident to the
army increase.
However, the question of promotion is
important in its indirect bearings on mil
itary policy and the efficiency of the
More Ildn any owner one T.
perhaps, il has delayed the evolution of
our military forces. To secure equitable
promotion so that officers can be brought
to bring the best talents to the study and
solution of questions Of military policy is
one of the most important problems to be
solved in connection with the pending
legislation"
The Journal then proceeds to outline a
-.
GERS on the detached list can be used to
equalize promotion between the different
arms Of the service.
An amendment to the Naval Appro-
priation bill fixing the strength of the
Marine Corps at % per cent of that of
the navy. will probably be reported out
of the House Committee on Naval Az
fairs. The same amendment will pro-
vide that the number of commissioned
officers should be 4 per cent of the en-
listed strength of the navy.
For some time the Marine Corps has
been contending for this ratio of strength
SO that when there is any increase in
the strength Of the navy the Marine
Corps will be automatically Increased.
Maj Gen. George Barnett, commandant
of the Marine Corps. has recommended
this increase and his recommendation
retary of the Navy.
THE naval personnel board has recon-
mended," said Mr.. Roosevelt, that the
strength of the Marine Corps should be
20 per cent of the authorized enlisted
strength of the navy. The report of the
board also fixes the ratio of officers at
4 per cent of the enlisted strength /
think that II will be an excellent thing
to have this enacted into law by an
amendment to the appropriation BILL
which would simplify the handling Of the
personnel question when the special bill
comes up"
While the Secretary of the Navy was
being attacked from every angle at the
meeting of the Navy League yesterday,
words to say for the head Of the Navy
Department during the commencement
exercises of the Naval Medical School
According to the surgeon general, Secre-
tary Daniels has done more for the Medi-
cal Corps of the navy than any of his
predecessors
Enumerating them under nine heads the
Surgeon General said that among other
things the Secretary had recommended
the sfirst increase in the Medical Corps
In twenty years. 1t has been thirty five
years since there has been an increase
in the upper grades of the Medical Corps
according to the Surgeon General
.sThe Secretary said Surg. Gen.
Rraisted" has established two Of the
finest hospital corps training schools in