Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-22
Commissions Open For
Men Who Are Able
and Wiling to Fight

Washington, March 22.-The grade
of second lieutenant in the officers re-
serve corps of the army has been
thrown open by Secretary Baker to
men without any military experience
whatever, provided they are physically
and mentally adapted to military life,
An urgent plea has been SEM out to
men between 81 and 80 years all over
the country to send In applications for
commissions with assurances that the
army Will supply after enrolment the
military training necessary to fit them
for duty.
Under h national defense act, the
corps should be able to furnish Off
GERS for a force Of 1000, 900 volunteers
In the war time and also serve as a
reservoir from which additional Off
GERS for the regular army could be
drawn at need. Less than 1000 men
nave been given reserve commissions
IN the line, despite the fact that the
law has been In opera tion for more
than eight months. Applications are
coming in slowly and army officers are
using every means in their power to
attract young men to this service as
a patriotic duty.
There appears to be no lack of men
to serve in the staff corps res
serve. such as the engineer corps, the
quartermasters division and the medi-
cal service. Enough commissions in
these corps have been issued to pro-
VIC the special arms for q million
troops. 1t is fighting men who are
lacking, line officers who may look for
service at the front in time of war.
Army officers believe the failure to fill
up this reserve is due only to lack of
information as to the requirements,
for 1t IL the fighting lines that are at
tractive TO young men in war time.
Eventually the reserve officers train
ing corps, composed of units at uni
versities, schools and colleges, will pro-
vide more than 5000 men a year, it
is estimated. for reserve commissions.
The first fruits Of this scheme for edu-
eating reserve officers, however, will
not come until 1918 and then not more
than 5000 junior officers can be ex-
pected to be turned into the reserve.
In all probability many of these will
be required for regular army commits
sions reducing the reserve strength by
that much.
The law prescribes that no man
shall be commissioned in the reserve
without having passed examination.
The war department has realized that
lack OF previous military experience of
any kind is probably preventing young
men past their college days from MAX
Ing application. For hat reason every
enor has been made to make it known
turnout the country hat military ex-
perience Is not required. Men will be
commissioned who have never worn a.
uniform or faced a drill sergeant. The
army will gladly undertake to furnish
those who are otherwise suitable with
tho necessary professional training
after they have entered the service.
This applies, however, only to the
grade OF second lieutenant. First lieu
tenants, captains and majors must
show previous military experience to
earn their commissions. The heavy
responsibilities for the care Of troops
that goes with such grades necessitates
this restriction.
Applicants for second lieutenants
commissions are being assured that
every opportunity will be given them
after enrolment in that grade to adj
n themselves to higher rank.
The department has appealed to
young men who al + o offer their
to apply without delay to the
commander Of the military department
In which they live for necessary pa
pers and Information. Letters should
be addressed to The Commanding Cen
era, Eastern Department, Governors
Island, n. Y, Central Department, Chi,
cago, ILL.,: Southern Department, San
Antonio. Tex, or Western Department,
a Francisco. Cal. They will receive
prompt attention and arrangements for
the examination of an applicant will
be made to suit his convenience as
nearly as possible.
To those who receive commissions.
the summer training camps OF the
army will be open and they will re-
ceive travel allowances and pay that
will more than offset any expense to
which they may be put. Only a simple
field uniform is required for reserve
officers, involving little expense, and
the government assumes this cost also
eventually.
In war time reserve officers would be
required to report Tor duty either in
person or by letter, AS he may direct,
to the commanding general OF the de-
partment in which they reside. They
Will be assigned to regular or volun-
teer regiments, as the occasion war
rants, and when called out will receive
the full pay and allowances of their
grade in the regular service.