Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-11-06

OOSSlDle. II Is lH0 Olu dllHJ anu navy
IDEA again of standing by the COM
handing general in the field or the ad-
| mira! on the bridge.
There is evident not only in the cap
ital bur throughout the country an
ardent desire on the part of the bulk
of the people to be just as loyal to the
soldiers and. Sailors who are to do dam
gerous work for the flag as they are
or try to be to the civilian chief who,
under our constitution, commands
them. The war department and the
navy department in Washington feel
this condition instantly. There are
thousand channels of communica-
ton between the great departments of
government and the masses of the peo-
pie and a change of sentiment one way
or another on the part of the country
instantly is detected in headquarters
in Washington.
The chiefs of the army express
themselves freely as being pleased and
extraordinary enthusiasm of most of
the American people for the member
ship Of the new National army. the Sc
lected service men drawn to the col
ors through the draft system.
There was a sort of fear in army
circles that the men who did not vol
unteer but who entered through the
process of drawing. would not find the
place in the hearts of the American
people that the volunteers always have
found The truth is that today the
officials seem to think that there is.
if possible, a little warmer feeling to-
ward the young fellows from civil life
who have been plunged into absolute
ly new conditions of living. then there,
is for either the National Guardsmen
or the regulars. This may be only in
the seeming instead of in reality, but
that the new National army has en-
gagged the affections of the people,
army men say there can be no doubt
Third Officers Training Camp.
Enlisted men of the regular army
and the National Guard and selective
service men of the National army are
to be given an opportunity this winter
to earn commissions by undergoing in
structiOn at another officers training
camp, which the government has de-
cided to establish carry in January.
1t was not many years ago thar
some high-ranking army officers rec
commended that the course at West
Point be extended one year, because
they held that four years instruction,
even at school as rigid in its disci-
pline and teaching as the military
academy, was not enough in which to
train an officer for the army
1t may be that as a result of the
experience of this war the minds of
some of the army officers will be
changed concerning the time necessary
to make men fit for commissions. OF
course it is recognized that the neces-
stiles of the case have made it urgent
that officers should be trained quickly,
but from the reports which come to
the war department from all over the
country it appears that the young men
who have been commissioned after
three months at school in the field are
something more than fairly fit to ex-
erciSe Junior commands.
Already the commanding general of
each regular army, National Guard
and National army division has told
the enlisted men of his command that
the school for officers is to be opened
and that every nOncOmmissioned Off
Ger and private can apply for admis-
sion. IT. is estimated that 10 per cent
of the enlisted strength of the various
organizations win be selected for ex-
animation for entrance to the camps
and that from this 10 per cent little
less thar , per cent will be chosen for
actual service at the schools of in
Stru ction.
Only the Best to Be Taken.
1t is not believed. however, that
fully 10 per cent of all the organiza-
tons will apply for permission to I'M
dertake the training. If the entire
number should apply and should be
successful in the course, the army
probably would be overtopped with Of
fcers. Therefore it is that only 2 per
cent comprising the most likely per-
centage of the 10 per cent, VIII be per-
mitted to enter the camps.
The understanding is that at the
training camps the course will be con-
Quoted along semicOmpetitive lines.
Not all the men who enter, of course,
can graduate, but they will lose moth
ing by the educational experience. for
those who do not get commissions
probably will be given noncommis-
stoned rank with the increase of pay
which such rank commands.
Out of the colleges and military
schools of the country $500 young men
are to be taken into the officers train
ing camps. They will dr:lI and study
side by side with the men fram the
ranks of the three services. 1t is ap-
parently the intention of Uncle Sam
to have enough men to officer an army
much larger than that which at the
present day is under orders.
The parents and the friends of many
young men who have been selected for
service and have entered the National
army feared that promotion would be
denied even the deserving ones in the
ranks of those chosen by draft. The
war department knew that the feeling
existed in the country that the men who
for the regulars or the
National Guard would be much more
certain of promotion than the men who
entered the service through the draft.
The department acted to allay the
fear.
A Good Reason.
you ought to husband that corn"
said the food conservist, as the farm
er scattered it TO the chickens"
Il do husband it, replied the farm
er. Don't you see it's henpecked?"