Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-17
MERIT MUST
WIN IN ARMY
OF u. S. men
Private Soldier May Become
Officer Upon Showing
Ability.
lBv the Associated Press

With the American Army In
France, Sunday, Dec. 1e.-The or 3.
ders lust issued by General PERISH
ing providing for system OF pro-
motion from the ranks, under
which any private who demon
strates his ability may win
commission, makes all n0n-eom-
missioned officers, even corperais,
eligible for school which Is be-
ing established MT large train
ing center for the instruction OF
candidates for commissions.
Privates who desire to become Off
GERS must first demonstrate their ef-
ffciency by earning appointment as
non-cornmissioned officers. The non
commissioned officers will be sent TO
the training school on recommends
ton of their superiors.
Must Be Fighters.
Before submitting such recommen-
dations the officers charged with this
duty are instructed by General Perish
ing's orders to give the most careful
consideration to the record of those
recommended, having in view in the
case of n-commissioned officers OF
the line only the lighting efficiency OF
his unit. and in ali other cases only
the ability to perform duties eftici-
entity
When candidates attending the
training school have been found to be
proficient they will be assigned tC
vacancies as second lieutenants of re
placement divisions Thence they will
go to I'LL vacancies occasioned by cas-
/ ualties and other causes in combat di-
visions. There will be no limit to the
number of second lieutenants in tbs
replacement divisions.
Within the combat units vacancies
to the extent of one-third of the tota
will be filed in this manner and two
thirds by promotion within the com
/ bat unit itself
Filling of Vacancies.
In the replacement divisions vaean
! cies from the grade of first lieutenan
TO colonel will be filed by officers re
covering from wounds and officers
who have not received assignments
Those fully recovering from wounds
will be assigned to the combat units
Arriving depot battalions hereafter
will be considered part of the replace
ment divisions.
Z. $. Party Gets Sample.
Representative OF the United State.
food administration now know jus
how the American soldiers in Franc,
live. Last night the party of 81,
split up and Joined different units
Several units were on praetic'
marches and the visitors had the ex
perience of standing in the rain in TIL
mess line and eating from the mes
! tins without shelter. They.were bill
leted for the night with soldiers VIII
were sleeping in lofts and In room
| of farm houses.
| This morning one of the visitor
wanted to wash aud as the sergeant
| had been instructed to show them III
i fayors, he was directed to the neares
muddy stream, where hardy artillery
men were standing in mud and ic
busy with soap, brushes and frigi
] water. It appeared to be too nue.
| for one member of the party, so til
captain allowed him to share his bill
let, which had a stove.
All the members of the party agree
! that even under the most trying cir
cumstances and sometimes without
single apparent comfort except pos
sibly a cigaret, the morale and de
meonor of the soldiers were the fines
possible. Today the visitors spen
part Of the time with former nationa
guardsmen from their respective hom
, states,