Evening star., 1918-09-29
Army and Navy News

Gcers that was the hardest obstacle
to be overcome in the organization or
the armies that are winning the war.
Particularly was the hardship of not
being able to select officers frohi
civilians left by the field ana the
coast artillery officers In the Army
there We're many young men suitaple
in most respects to become commits
stoned officers, but who due TO thelr
youth had not the maturity of JudG-
ment that is needed In the he!d artll-
lery officer. The present order per-
mits the selection of II suitable can
didate from civil life and although
he may not be ordered to the train
ing camp until he receives his regis
tration and draft number the proper
officers may now prepare the lIstS
and thus be ready to ftll the Vacan-
cies as they arise III lhe traininS
camps with candidates made up or
men who have experience and ma
turity of Judgment,
The requirements in these candi-
dates are sound physique, sooo
educatio with a knowledge OF the
fundamentals OF matnema,,t,ies any any
force OF character which will control
men. Such civilians. whether liaDle
or not to draft, should put them
selves in communication with the de-
partment and seek to be made cam
didates for the training school, whefe
prove that they are worthy OF noia-
ing commission in the Army OF inc
United States.
,I>HE newly adopted system. quite
generally attributed to Col, Ira
l.. Reeves, of selecting officer per-
sonnel for the whole Army within the
ovnifa1 mnch 1t-
tention from all sections OF the mill
tary forces The appointment diVl-
sion, which is branch of the opera
tions division of the general slat'
will function upon the appointment
uromotion, transfer and assignment
of the commissioned personnel of all
branches of the Army. Each bureau
hitherto made its recommendations
directly to the adjutant general VINO
usually, unless some good reason 10
the contrary appeared, acted taNoraply
upon the request and made the pro-
motion or the appointment desired,
The removal OF this function from
the bureau chiefs will be regarded
with favor or disapproNal by them
according to the point of view theS
lNEt---N lltliitI A'lSS 'i' 49, '>' -'7''N
Il duty they have found lrksoine OF
Aispleascd at the loss Of power that
they regarded as desirable. The
staff saws that it is the expectation
that the new selection of person.
uel division shall cooperate with
cure for each the officers that are
best adapted to that branch of the
service and to make sure that all
officers have equal opportunity both
for promotion and assignment TO
duties for which they are fitted. An
officer of high rank, in explaining
what the new section is expected 10
accomplish, compared it to the Civil
Service Commission, which, he said.
was not the ideal way CT making
appointments, but the best practical
method.
There is no doubt concerning one
feature; it presents an officer, Col
Percy +. Bishop, at the head of the
new office, who will be held strictly
responsible for the selection and
promotion of commissioned officers,
and this is one more step in keep
ing with the sound principle shown
OF Fate in the operations of the gem
cral staff--one that approaches the
simplicity of the methods of the
naval CiliCc of operations-assign-
ing duty to some officer and holding
him responsible for its performance
without giving nm CnanCe TO get
from under" The whole service is
watching.
T'HArI.AlNS for the Army are not
~ made in seminaries or theological
institutions. One of the conditions Of
acceptance of man for entrance to
the school for chaplains is tlrat he
shall be recognized as licensed by
some denomination. but there is no
examination of Il candidates views on
theology. On acceptance, they enlist
for five weeks course of instruction
at the training school. and there are
rated as privates and are paid at the
rate of $50 month and their equip
ment, uniforms and rations If they
are passed and accepted they are COM
missioned as first lieutenants in the
United States Army. Candidates of
Indifferent promise. or who for rea-
sons desire to leave, will not be COM
PEELED to remain in the training
schools. but at the discretion of the
canlD commander will be discharged