The Delta independent., 1917-04-27
HIGHEST RANK LIKELY TO BE
REVIVED FOR LEADER OF
GREAT NEW ARMY.
W. 7. SHERMAN WAS THE LAST
Several Officers Probably Will Be
Made Lieutenant Generals, and Pro-
motion Will Come to Many Others
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

| ''oA'
tenant general in the United States
army. and it may be that before many
months have gone by the armed land
forces will have as their leader a gen.
eral, which is the highest rank which
can be given any man in the military
service
War is here and the department of
war soon must name the men to lead
the legionS. Who are to be the lieu
tenant generals or the generals If such
nigh ranks are to be revived? Today
the only lieutenant generals in the
army are few officers on the retired
list Miles is lieutenant general and
so is Young, but they have passed the
years of active service. and the rank
which they hold died when they re-
| tired.
There has been no man to hold the
rank of general in the army since
William T. Sherman died Only few
men in the history of the country have
held the rank of lieutenant general.
With an army of million or more men
in prospect. Washington seems to be-
lieve that the rank of lieutenant gen.
eral at least will be revived.
Wood. Bell, Barry. Sibert. Pershing.
ana several other major generals and
brigadier generals of the army are in
direct line for promotion. The country
is to have selective conscription. There
is selection, also, and always has been,
for all the army ranks above that Of
colonel. The president has the last
word to say in the naming of men to
star rank. Mr.. Wilson will have a long
and notable list of regular army off,
GERS of tried service to select from.
Promotions Coming to Many.
When the existing army is raised to
war footing of 2s7.OOO men, perma-
nent promotion. or promotion that pre-
sumably will be permanent, will come
to many officers of the service Briga-
dlers and some colonels. and perhaps
officers of lower rank. will become ma
jor generals. while the brigadIer ranks
VIII be filled by men of known merit
taken from any of the lower grades
which the president may elect to
search for commanding material.
The United States probably is to
have conscript army Immediately of
100000 men. Before long it Is believed
that the number of men in the ranks
VIII be doubled. There will be In the
near future about as many men wear
Ing the stars of general rank as there
were in the Northern army at any one
time during the progress of the Civil
war.
President Wilson is going to undergo
trial when the hour comes to appoint
men of high rank. AS matter of fact
there is comparatively little to choose
between many officers Of the existing
regular army. Hundreds of men who
through the years. slowly under the
operation of law. have obtained fed
rank are to all intents and purposes
equally well qualified to lead brigades,
divisions and corps on the field Of
battle. Under an existing regulation,
army officers are forbidden to press
their own cases.
Promotions for juniors will come
largely through the recommendations
Of their superiors in office. The rec
ords of the juniors will be studied.
Virtually every record of conduct Is
perfect. There are some officers who
have had an opportunity to perform
conspicuous service In lines of peace.
and II may be that these officers will
be given preference over brother off,
GERS who unquestionably could have
performed the same services equally
well II opportunity had come to them
| to do 1t.
Selection Will Not Be Easy.
Promotion by selection is frequently
precarious thing to do. Ranking off,
GERS have their likes and their dis
likes. Personal acquaintance with the
junior officer may infect superior's
judgment. One thing can be taken for
granted, and 1t is that no matter who
is promoted. the time will come. and
shortly. when the proof will be ut hand
whether or not mistake was made In
the advancement. BY the same token
Junior officer who was overlooked in
the first instance may have chance
to prove that he should have been sc.
lected. md be given a chance Mt what
was Mt first denied.
Already members OF congress are be-
ginning to intimate that they would
like to serve. This man was a colonel
In the Spanish war, and that man was a
major in the same conflict. while nm.
other man was "A captain and another
man was n sergeant, and hence. ergo
and therefore, each one OF them thinks
he Is competent for high command In
the field today.
Service Behind the Lines.
Men and women all over the United
States are asking today How can
serve my cOuntryT'
washington.-Men and women all
over the United States are asking to.
day How can ! serve my country"