The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-05-05
MAY HAVE GENERAL
HIGHEST RANK LIKELY TO BE
REVIVED FOR LEADER OF
GREAT NEW ARMY.
w. T. SHERMAN WAS THE LAST
Several Officers Probably viii Be
Made Lieutenant Generals, and Pro-
motion viii Come to Many Others
selection 10 Task for President.
BY EDWARD a CLARK

a ""nHiuStOn.-lt Is probable that cor
I gress soon will revive the rank of lier
tenant general In the United State
I army, and II may be that before man
I months have gone by the armed lam
: FORCES VIII have as their leader a gen
eral' which is the highest rank whicl
can be given any man in the militar,
service.
war Is here and the department o.
war soon must name the men to leaC
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
| yours or active service, and the rank
which they hold died when they re-
tired.
Ihere 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
heid the rank of lieutenant general.
with an army Of million or more men
III prospect, Washington seems to be
heVe that the rank Of lieutenant gen.
eral at least wifi be revived.
wood, Bell, Barry, Sibert. Pershing,
and several other major generals and
Drigadier generals of the army are In
dlrect line for promotion. The country
is TO have selective cOnscriptiOn. There
is selection, also, and always has been.
Tor 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 |
ana 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, 900 men. perma-
hent promotion, or promotion that pre-
Sumably will be permanent. will come
70 many officers of the service. Briga-
ufers and some colonies, and perhops
officers of lower rank, will become ma
)or generals, while the brigadier ranks
VIII be hlled by men of known merit
-aken from any of the lower grades
'hich the president may elect to
'earch Tor commanding material.
Inc United States probably Is TO
ave conscript army Immediately of
10000 men. Before long 1t is believed
nat the number Of men In the ranks
VIII De doubled. There will be I'm the
ear future about as many men wear
ng the stars Of general rank as there
we're In the Northern army at any one {
line during the progress of the Civil
7ar. {
PRESIDENT Wilson is going to undergo
nal when the hour comes to appoint
len OF high rank. AS matter Of fact
here Is comparatively little to choose Z
etween many officers of the existing
OCULAR army. Hundreds of men who
trough the years, slowly under the
peration of law, have obtained field o
INK are to all intents and purposes n
luaiiy well qualified to lead brigades. a
visions and corps on the field of -"
little. Under an existing regulation Y
my officers are forbidden to press q
eir own cases. Il
Promotions for juniors will come IL
rgely through the recommendations "
their superiors In Office. The rec u
DIS Of the juniors will be studied OF
rtually every record of conduct ia
rfect. There are some officers who
we had an opportunity to perform W
nspicuous service in lines Of peace Oh
d 1t may be that these officers will tn
given preference over brother Off. re
rs who unquestionably could have tn
the same services eoualIv Sc
III If opportunity had come to them tn
do Il. tn
seIeetseo viii Not Be Easy. on
Promotion by selection is frequently
'recarious thing to do. Ranking off, on
s have their likes and their dis 90
es. Personal acquaintance with the or
nor officer may affect a superior,s e,,
lgment. One thing can be taken for he
lnted, and 1t is that no matter wbo ~,
promoted. the time will come. and wv,
'rtly, when the proof will be at hand
ether or not mistake was made IN ~,
advancement. By the same token -.
unior officer who was overlooked IN 49,,
first Instance may have a chance =
prove that he should have been Sc col
ed, and be given a chance at what cd,
J at first denied. uu.
lready members Of congress are he r.,
ming to intimate that they would Rr'
to serve. This man was n colonel '
he Spanish war, and that man was , ~
or In the same conflict, while an ono
ar man was a captain and another Gnu