New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19

,ossib;litv Of failure diminishes rather
than increases. Our military situation
lust at present is an anomalous PROPOSE
ton. reaching from Pershing's regulars
in France-expert soldiers now IN the
last lap of their overseas postgraduate
.orrso which is fitting them for the
firing line-to the shadowy millions yet
20 he called up by the selective dratt'
cszetted 70 the concentration camp KIN
ID. dergartens and taught everything the
soldier has TO know
Rstween the compass of these ex-
tremes lies a weller Of military con-
siderations under way, planned ana IN
@' prospect. Our present armed trained
~ and partly trained land fighting FORCES
o.. number about three-quarters OF mill
.o ION Half have Joined the colors since
April. -,
e. This includes the National Guard
more than 100000 strong, whose UNITS
have attained various degrees OF MILL
ta-v efficiency. The best OF them
unit, from several states, including
New York's own Goth Infantry-are be-
ing regimented together into the ram
10 how division" so called because OF lts
heterogeneous composition, Tor foreign
-. service in the near future. others are
nrenaring to enter training camps IN
0 Tho South. Several newly formed reg
iments of regulars have been IN tram
~, for months. and with their ranks
D. buttressed by experienced men ana
with West Point officers. they are COM
ing along at likely rate.
Tho most backward Guard organiza-
tions and the greeneSt Of the green
Boz regular units probably VIII De wen oh
their way to France to JOIN thelr com
rades before the first OF the MARINA
Army will be ready for the transports.
The first draft of 6S5,OOO no" peIne
selected will be called out IN thfec
increments. reporting at eonce1It 5E vi
camns on September ., 10 ana 20 70
7 20 +sckIe the soldiers b c's. linen
tbere are the drafts yet to come, the
recruit contingents to be sent 10 NJ!
the ranks of regiments depleted oS
iosses-and so forth and so Rrth,
"America will not know 1t is al war
until it has looked upon its own oeao,
aesorted Lieutenant Colonel Percy A.
Cntbrie of the Mclean Highlanders, IN
Now York a while back with the br,V-
ish recruiting mission. THAT was the
experience of Canada" .-;
The gallant soldier Of the Domlh,ol
may be correct in a sense. WIN ms
TWENTY-FIVE wounds, his opinions pIo-
coed from a knowledge one hesitate !
"a contradict. Yet America neeo hCl
wait to look upon its own ueaI ~
realize we are at war. II can iooH
national military productivity whlch
- already in motion and which mus
continue in motion at home as lopg
as the war continues ABROAD.
Officers Most Important
The hope of an army IS ITS omeers'
They make il and sustain II anu Oi'
them depends its striking power. rs.
ID. necially is this true OF the P,eSeu'
conflict. "a lieutenants war, 'He
English military authorizes Put A.
The despised subaltern has risen ~
heights of glory. The examples a.
legion Of where young seeVios -.
msnder bv a conspicuous act OF uIaN.
81, or singular stroke Of inltlatiVt
during the attack mas turned the t Ia
srd won the day for division. WIZ
80 tho smartest and keenest ana mos
Courageous men that can be found u
,bs noets Of officers of the llne' thS
niors Of the most astute generai sVal
. IN existence go for nothing
Tbe selection of proper othcer ma
tarial and the moulding OF that rnate
rial INTO potential military leaqeIs
tbrrefore, is the prime concern OF mos
who are building our new mi,l'aI
structure. Last week Witnessed tn
ending of. the initial series OF tralnlnI
ean,ns where the short course for ON
cers was given its first trial IN tn'
ITnited States. From this experiment
one deemed risky and daring by man!
military authorities, has emerged
success Of the first water.
This week there begins the seconC
series OF officers schools, modelled OF
the old, but. with improvements an'
alterations which recommended them
selves while the ground was 0eini
gone over the first time. Some tweN'
hundred and fifty New Workers will g
to Plattsburg 70 train, largely unde
the direction of the same men ina
were responsible for the conspicuou
success OF the first camp. Two nun
bred and sixty New Workers who de
veloped officer possibilities, but not II
suf cient force TO gain commissions II
the first camp, will remain there ant
, repeat the course
But after Plattsburg-what!
We shall see presently. Two week
hence graduates Of the first Plattsburi
and the fifteen other officers training
camps will meet the real test. The!
will be assigned 70 regiments OF IN,
regular and National armies. The tasi
of those who 20 with the Nations
forces appears 70 be the most difficult
as they will be placed with absolutel!
green troops. Nothing like a complete
officers education is their reward toi
three months night and day labor a
Plattsburg They just have the for
mula, as one Of the instructors ha
said.
On their ability to apply this for
mula 10 the new problems arising II
the draft concentration camps depends
their success as officers. Mesntim,
they must do double duty. Their stud
les will continue in the officers school
of the National Army while they ar
imparting what they already know Il
-the troops.
"As ! size il up" said former New
York newspaper reporter, now lieu
tenant Of field artillery, "the best cal
hope 20 do is keep a couple OF jump
ahead Of my men. IL won't take lon
10 teach them what ! have picked u
~s so far. In the future III learn thin
one week for myself and pass IL o.
20 my men the next"
s.o Pass Information Quickly
"' This may strike the unaceustomed CT