The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-05-04
MAY HAVE GENERAL
RICHEST RANK LIKELY 70 BE
REVIVED FOR LEADER or
GREAT NEW ARMY.
W. T. SHERMAN WAS THE LAST
Several Officers Probably Win De
Made Lieutenant Generals, and Pre-
motion VIII Come to Many Others
Selection 10 Task for President.
by EDWARD o. CLARK.

~ ~ - " f1fAg W. (&Nffsre
Washlngton.--lt Is probable that con-
gross soon win revive the RINK Of lieu-
tenant general In the United States
army, and II may be that before many
months have gone by the armed land
forces viii have as their leader gem
erai, which ls the highest RINK which
can be given any man IN the military
service.
War Il here and the department Of
wnr soon must name the men 70 lead
the legIons. Who are TO be the lieu
tenunt generals or the generals II such
high ranks are TO be revivedf To-day
the only lieutenant generals In the
nrmy nre a few officers on the retired
list. Miles Is n lieutenant general and
50 is Young. hut they have passed the
wears OF active service, mnd the rink
which they hold died when they re-
tired,
There has been no man TO held the
rank Of general In the army since
William 4. Sherman died. Only few
men IN the history Of the country have
held the rank OF lieutenant general.
With an army Of million or more men
~ prospect. Washington seems 70 be-
iiese that the rank Of lieutenant gem
erni al least will be revived.
Wood. Bell. Barry. Sibert, Pershing,
and several other major generals and
brlgndler generals OF tho army are In
direct line for promotion. The country
r. 70 have seiectlve CONSUMPTION. There
Is selection. also. and always Inns been,
for oil the army ranks above that Of
colonel. The president has the last
word to say In the naming OF men TO
star rank. Mr.. Wilson will have long
and notable list OF regular army OFF,
GERS Of tried service TO select from.
Promotions Coming to Many,
When the existing army is raised to
war footing OF $4,000 men. permn.
uent promotion. or promotion that pre-
sumably will be permanent will come
TO many officers Of the service. Brlga-
diers and some colonels, and perhaps
officers of lower rank viii become ma
5or generals. while the brigadler ranks
will be filled by men Of known merit
taken from any Of the lower grades
which the president may elect TO
search for commanding material.
The United Stntes probably Is TO
have a conscript army Immediately Of
100000 men. Before long II Is believed
that the number of men IN the ranks
viii be doubled. There viii be In the
near future about as many men wear
ing the stars OF general rank as there
were in the Northern army at any one
time during the progress Of the Civil
war.
President Wilson Is going to undergo
trial when the hour comes to appoint
men OF high rank. AS a matter of fact
there is comparatively little to choose
between many officers Of the existing
regular army. Hundreds Of men who
through the years, slowly under the
operation of law. have obtained field
rank are 10 all lntents and purposes
equally well qualified 10 lead brIgades
divisions and corps on the field OF
battle. Under an existing regulation
army officers are forbidden TO pres,
their own cases.
Promotions for juniors win com,
largely through the recommendation
of their supcriors In office. The rec
oris OF the juniors will be studied
Virtually every record OF conduct