Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-12
TO CUT DEADWOOD
FROM HIGH RANKS
General Officers of Army and
National Guard Face Thor
ough Examinations.
MANY LIKELY TO BE SHELVEO
Step Necessary on Account of
Unusually Severe Conditions
of Service Abroad.
By Associated Pc.

By Associated Press.
WAHiifNGToN. December li.--Al
general officers tho regular army
and National Guard arc being examined
by medical boards and efficiency boards
with view TO determining tho ad-
visibility Of sending them for service
abroad"
In announcing this. step late to-day
Secretary Baker said il was necessary
on account of the unusually severe con-
dltions Of service i'll this war.
Comma ndcrs for American troops at
the lighting front are TO be selected
only after. rieid investigation of their
physical and professional fitness for
their task. ISari!' announcement of the
retirement or discharge Of some of the
general officers is to be expected. as
medical boards already have reported
against men in both the regular and
National Guard services
The secrctary's statemen. follows:
The Secretary OF War announced
to-day that all general officers OF the
regular army and tho National Guard
are being examined by medical boards
and efficiency boards. with the view OF
determining the advisability OF sending
them for service abroad.
CONDITIONS UNUSUALLY HARD
IN FOREIGN SERVICE
The conditions CT foreign service in
this war are unusually severe. requir-
ing that general officers shall be not
only adequately grounded in military
science and adequately alert physically
10 acquire rapidly the lessons which
the new form of warfare requires. but
able TO endure proionse hardship.
The determinations Of these boards
are impersonal, and iE the interest o:
the success OF our armies. and the well
fare both OF leaders and men. and will
be affirmed by the department. This
policy will no doubt commend itself
to the people OF the country as being
in the public interest, and even where
1t is necessary 10 deny the opportunity
for foreign service to soldiers OF long
experience, it will DE understood to
imply nothing III any way prejudicial to
the officers involved.
Boards Of this kind have already
found some general officers OF both the
regular army and the National Guard
physically disqualified. Such finding
does not in any way reject upon the
past service of the officer or upon his
present zeal and Willingness to make
personal sacrifices in the further ser
vice OF his country. but the question
TO be determined s one of capacity to
perform highly specialized and ardu-
Gus type OF Eervice."
UNDER OBSERVATION
IN FEDERAL SERVICE
The general officers OF the National
Guard were taken into the Federal SER
vice with their State units without eX-
animation into their professional quail
fications. Some OF them had served
on the border during the guard mobili-
zation, and all OF them have been under
observation since the guard was called
into Federal service for tho war
Most OF the present regular army
officers are men OF lower rank. who
have been given genera! officers COM
missions for the duration of the war
only. They were selected. SO far as the
line officers are concerned. by the same
process which is followed with tho
nomination ot men TO permanent. COM
missions in general grades OF the army.
by this process IL has been the rule
that seniority was followed. unless the
record OF an officer forbade this pro-
motion
The new order undoubtedly will elm
mate q very considerable number OF
general officers. even or the grade or
major-geneval 1t is understood that no
step will be taken towards the APP
pointment OF acknowledgements as
! corps commanders until the War
| Department is satisfied with the
result OF its weeding-ou process
among the major and brigadier-gen-
erals.
| To-day's announcement recalls :he
fact that soon after the outbreak of
| the war France found it necessary to
sheIve large number OF officers Of
high rank. and that a similar process
was followed later in the British SER
| vice.
| Secretary Bakers statement carries
warning that no appeals from the
! boards will be considered. The ded
wood is 10 be cut out with firm hand.
| il is said. and with reliance upon the
hes; judgment OF the officers constitut-
| ing the boards.