Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-11-07

that the man whom the people elected
president is the commander in chief.
There always is loyalty to the fact
and unquestionqbly there always will
he loyalty to the person who repre-
sents the fact, so long as loyalty is
possible. It is the old army and navy
idea again of standing by the COM
manding general in the field or the adj
miral on the bridge.
There Is evident not only in the cap
ital but 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 dan
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 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
perhaps a little bit surprised at the
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 he 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
~ 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 thu 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
10 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 early in January.
II was not many years ago that
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 a school as rigid In it's diSci-
pline aud 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 he
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 II urgent
that officers should be trained quickly.
but from the reports which come TO
the war department from all over the
country 1t appears that the young men
who have been commissioned after
three months ut school in the field are
something more than fairly tit 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 II is estimated that 10 per cent
of the enlisted strength Of the various
organizations will be selected for ex-
animation for entrance 10 the camps
and that from this 10 per cent a little
less than per cent will he chosen for
actual service at the schools Of In
struction.
Only the Best to BE Taken.
II Is not believed, however that
fully 10 per cent of all the organiza-
lions will apply for permission TO I'M
dertake the training. If the entire
number should apply and should he
successful in the course, the army
pr Sably would be overtopped with Of
ficess Therefore It is that only ? per
cent, comprising the most likely per-
centage of the 10 per cent. will be per-
mitted 10 enter the camps.
The understanding is that at the
training camps the course will be con-
Quoted along semlcompetitive 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 viii drill and study
side by side With the men from the
ranks of the three services. 1t is np-
parently the intention OF Uncle Sam
TO have enough men to officer IN army
much larger than that which ut the
present day is under orders,
The parents and the friends Of many
young men who have been selected FOR