New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Civilians, Appointed I'd
Lieutenants Last August,
May Be Captains
Officers Fear Result
Placing Of War Department
Clerks on Active Commits
sions Causes Criticism

Washington, April BE Congress
adopts the recommendation Of the Wal
Department and authorizes the lncrensc
of the army III its commissioned per
sonnet and enlisted force to the extent
Of the four remaining increments OF
army increase contemplated by the
national defence act Of June 3, 1910
instead Of having those increment'
effective annually on July !. there will
be many promotions OF officers. There
will be, for example, additional regl-
ments in the line 10 the extent oil
twenty-seven Of infantry. eight Of cav.
airy, twelve Of field artillery, four ard
a fraction of engineers and an equiva-
lent OF eight Of coast artillery.
Civilian candidates who qualihed lof
appointment as second lieutenants, III
the examination of last August and
who were commissioned IN the grade
within two months will be advanced at
once to captains. Most of the graduates
Of the Military Academy, who receive
their commissions next week, Will be
come first lieutenants.
Some of the army officers believe
that this abnormal promotion, which
carries into the grade of captain young
officers who are without experience IN
the command Of troops. will prove
detrimental to the service. especially
in time of war They are, con 'cquenJly
presenting the proposition that posi-
tons Of this kind be filled by members
Of the National Guard who qualify, and
non-commissioned officers Of the reg
ular army. Such an arrangement, Of
course, would have the effect Of Great
ing much discomfort among junior
oihceIs.
Senior Officers TO Advance
Senior officers Of the army are liable
10 be promoted in the same proportion.
There will be, for example, three add
tional major generals and fifteen more
brigadier generals, with twenty-five ad-
ditional colonels of the staf, and about
sixty colonels OF the line.
Aside from this increase III the reg
ular army by virtue of the effective
ness Of the four incrcments, on cers OF
the military establishment will have
an opportunity for temporary promo
ticn 10 the grades Of brlSadier general
and major general in the National
Guard and in the emergency army, FOR
which provision is made in the pending
legislation.
Vacancies existing in The grade o.
second lieutenant may be t.lcd by tenn
porary appointment. In the meantime
the temporary promotions viii not
operate to vacate permanent commis-
sons, and promotions will continue in
the regular army as they ordinarily
transpre.
The Secretary Of War IS now sign
irg all army commissions. including
these Of the Reserve Officers Corps
and the medical reservists. This was
done formerly by the President. II is
proposed that in view Of the large
number OF commissions which are
being issued the usual form be aban-
doned and letters of notification. which
are to DC signed by the Secretary OF
War, sent to those who are promoted.
New Appointees Opposed
1t was expected that Secretary Baker
would, to-day. assign to active duty
about ten officers OF the Reserve Off
GERS Corps, mostly those of the grade
Of major in the quartermaster branch.
Officers of the regular army have to
some extent opposed this action as one
not at present accessory. Objection
is specially directed against the as
signment to active duty as reservFts
of clerks in the War Department VINO
have been examined. who qualified and
who were commissioned some time ago.
Most of these clerks are, necessarily,
of great value at their desks in the
various bureaus, and it is represented
that they could not be we'll spared IN
view OF the enormous increase IN
emergency work.
Il is expected that during the comm :
week the Secretary of War will place
large order with the Savage Arms
Company, Of Utica, n. Y, for the lewis
type Of machine gun.