The Washington times., 1917-07-18
POLITICIANSIN
DRIVE TO WIN
POSITIONS IN
DRAFT ARMY

Inc strongest ponIlcal pressure
which the Administration has had to
face since the United States entered
the war is being exerted by poll
hcians seeking places Of high COM
mand in the draft army.
Preparations by the War Depart
ment to distribute the largest COL
lection Of military plums since civil
war days have brought the politi-
clans to the front. Here is a par
tial list Of the high commands to be
distributed:
Thirty-two major generals, 1913
brigadier generals in the national
army and national guard; and 20S
colonies, 20s lieutenant colonies, and
BIS majors in the national, or draft
army.
Baker Down the River.
Secretary Of War Baker today IL
down the Potomac river on a mine
planter, holding conferences with
Maj. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, acting
chief of STAG: Brig. Gen. Francis J.
Herman, acting assistant chief OF
statf. and Maj. Gen. Henry G. Sharpe,
Quartsrmsster general
The question Of army promotions
Il one Of the war problems the Sec
rotary and his advisers are discuss
ing. There was no secret made OF
the fact that the Secretary and his
staff officials left Washington to dis
euss these war problems where they
would be free OF interruption BY DO
liucai Callers
Politicians have concentrated their
efforts toward landing commissions
IN the drafi Army. The shortage Of
officsrs to ell pisces Of high COM
mand In the national EuArd. and the
unusual demand made upon the Tegu-
lar army to and officers within Its
own ranks for the hfty-ons new regu-
lar regiments being formed, will ne
cessitste selection Of most OF the
officers OF the draft army from civil
life.
This situation has been seised upon
by politicians, army officers assert. as
their opening to get into the army
from the top.
Plenty Of Openings.
Sixteen OF the thirty-twO major gen
eralships are beyond the reach OF
the politicians. These are the places
OF command in the draft army divis-
ions, which will go to regular army
officers. There is an opening for
the politicians in the sixteen national
guard major generalships, since gov
errors Of States are recommending
men for these places
Sixty-four brigadier Esnsr1lships
in the national guard are practical
ly beyond the reach OF politicians, as
these will go to present guard briga-
diers who can meet War Department
conditions. This leaves sixty-four
generals to command the brigades Of
the national army to select
But while the generalships offer
the greatest prize. the strongest
pressure from political sources is be-
ing eNerted to land commissions as
lieutenant colonel or major in the
draft army.
The War Department has tentative
" decided that IL will be able to sup
ply only a colonel and one major from
the regular army to regiments OF the
draft army. This leaves a lieutenant
colonel and two majors for each in
fsntry and cavalry regiment. and a
lieutenant colonel and one major for
each field artillery regiment
Here Are the Opportunities.
There will be IA regiments Of in
fartry in the draft army. which means
IA lieutenant colonies and 2ss majors
70 come from civil life. IL the War
Department carries out its present
plan. There will be sixteen cavalry
regiments, which means sixteen more
lieutenant colonies and thirty-two
more majors: and forty-eight field ar
tillery regiments, with forty-eiEnt
lieutenant colonies, and forty-eight /
major commissions as prizes, the ar
tillery having but two majors to a
regiment
The War Department planned to
get officers from civil life to I'LL the 1
commissioned ranks OF the draft I
army from the officers training .
camps. The bulk Of the men in the
first training camp, however, are
young men. Where political pres
sure has been applied this low age
average has been advanced as an
argument for the appointment Of
more mature men" as Lieutenant I
colonies and majors of the regiment,
giving the lower commands to the
young men in camp.
Officers OF the general stan have
been resisting these efforts OF the
politicians 10 the limit OF their power.
than to create a new crop Of
colonies, as in the days OF 1895, send