Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-05
Responsibility for Wrong

ble have been made of the War Depart
mcnt ruling that only 2 per cent of the
enlisted personnel OF National Guard units
shall be permitted to enter the training
camps for reserve officers, that have been
established throughout the country The
ruling and the discrimination it makes are
SO manifestly unfair that the utmost exercise
of ingenuity has failed as yet to discover
satisfactory excuse
But there is one version of the facts which
while it does not justify the order may ex-
plain It's existence and the persistence with
which it is adhered to by the department.
This is that the officers of some OF the So
called crack commands of the National
Guard, which contain many men capable of
holding commissioned rank, fear that a let
ting down of the bars would disrupt their
organizations. These ofIicers-so the story
runs-have been able to exert sufficient pres
sure on the War Department to bring about
the issue Of the Objectionable regulation.
We do not vouch for the accuracy of this
story, but it wears the sembance of truth. or
at least OF probability. III 1t is true, it places
the whole matter in an even more unsayory
aspect The Times-Dispatch would be very
unwilling to believe that any Virginia officers
have had hand in this questionable exploit.
Consider the effect of it. The greatest
military need of the country at this time is an
officers corps. The greatest service q man
quallned 10 become an officer can render his
country is to obtain commission. for under
the falrest and ablest administration Of the
wisest and best considered regulations there
Will be many commissions issued to unfit
persons. That is inevitable, and among the
first duties of the high command after the
army has been formed, will be the wedding
out of these undesirables
IT, therefore, some National Guard unit
is made up entirely of men fitted by training.
education and personality to WELD command
every one of these men should be commits
stoned, even though this result in the total
extinction Of the commands enlisted strength.
III is desirable. OF course. that such organiza-
tons as the Richmond Blues and the Rich
mond HowtZers continue as military entities.
but it is far moro desirable, in Americas
present situation, that competent officers he
provided for the armies soon to come into
existence.
This is to carry the argument to its logical
concluson-a conclusion inevitable and
lrrcslstlble-but as practical matter 1t is
not necessary to carry the argument so far
There is no National Guard unit all of whose
men are capable at the moment of discharr
ing the responsibilities of commissioned rank
IL would not even be necessary to offer to all
the competent an opportunity to win commits
sions at this time. A reasonable number
say, 10 per cent instead of Knight be per-
mitted, after preliminary demonstration OF
capacity, to take the training course and II
they failed to qualify, be returned to the
ranks. Opportunity TO qualify by direct ex-
animation should be held OUT to all The men
ought to be assured that the training thew
have undergone already and the valuable
services they have rendered already do not
permanently debar them from rewards which
less deserving men receive