New Britain herald., 1918-07-06
GENERAL CROWDER
 REFUSES PROMOTION
Draft Leader Urges Recognition for Exemption Board Volunteers

Washington, July 6.-The army bill conferecs reached an agreement yes terday on every point in controversy between the two houses The difficulty over the proposed advancement of Major-G Gen. Enoch Crowder, Provost marshal general, to licutenant-gene was solved by the general refusing the honor.
 The reading of Gen. Crowdcr's let ture of the concludinE session of the conference. The conforceS then adopted the generals suggestion. and Representative Kahn (Cal.) said: We wanted to honor Gen. Crowder in this way. He has been among tho lead CTS which this war has developed. the least Sclf-SeclIing. the most devoted official. In this time of gauging the value of men on a percentage basis Gen. Crowder will have to be figured well above par "
 Ih his letter Gen. Crowder took the position that until some tangible rec ognitiou of the devotion of the thou sands of citizens who volunteered their services to conduct draft boards, advisory boards and commissions and who gave months of arduOuS labor. in many instances voluntary, to the cause of creating the National Army he could not permit himself to be con- sidered as a candidate for reward.
 SIavs Ready to Fight.
 On the question of the creation of a Slavic legion as an adjunct to the American army. to be recruited from the nominal subjects of Austria Bulgaria resident in the United States and technically alien enemies, although deSirOuS for fighting side by side with the Allies against I<aiserism, the house conferees yielded to the senate and the provision remains in the bill. The Slavic legion will be re- cuited at once under the terms of the statute and as soon as the machinery can be set in motion.
 Provision for the creation of a Rus sian legion was stricken from the bill after protracted discussion, the con ferees being convinced that the time was not ripe for it's adoption. and it is understood that with the expected solution of the veXcd problem of America's relations with Russia and Russia'S relations with the world at large, that some sort of programme i be arranged.
 The provision for opening American training camps to soldiers of the Latin-American republics now or hereafter to enter tho war against Germany also was stricken out. This provision, it was thought, might be used by German propa gandistS in various quarters Of the world as the ba sis for a charge that America al- ready failing in man power was try ing to recruit for her own the forces in Latin-AmeriCa.
 Medical Corps Reorganization. Reorganization of the officers per sonnel of the army medical corps was compromised on the basis of the ad dition of two majors general and two l brigadiers- generals to the regular arnys medical department and one major general and two brigadiers-gen eral to the National Army. The sen- , ate provision had been for 8 larger
 number. The compromise also pro- VideS for the increase in the number of medical officers of field rank in the l grades of colonel and lieutenant 1 colonel thus smoothing a number of difficulties and deficiencies which have existed and by reason of which some of the most distinguished surgeons in America have been compelled to hold indifferent rank in comparison to their standing either in or outside the army. The increase in the rates of pay for army nurses also were compromised but with decided advance in the salary rates.