Evening star., 1918-02-03
News of the Army and Navy

and unusual efforts to evade military
duty had been made"
In this case the aid of the shipping
board was brought to bear and an ap-
peal was made to the President himself
to secure the release of Rosenthal from
military duty after he had been ordered
to camp Rosenthal was examined
physically and accepted on August 6
and on the next day iiied claim for
exemption on the ground of physical
disability, but the local board disal-
lowed his claim. The case was certi-
fed to the district board. which sus-
tanned the action of the local board. and
Rosenthal was certified for military
service
Nineteen days later he filed claim
for exemption on Industrial grounds.
| The district board granted this applica-
tion; but as the local board had al
/ ready sworn Rosenthal into the service,
this decision ws void. Eut on pres
entation of this record the command
ing officer at Camp Pike granted Rosen-
thai an honorable discharge and he re-
Sumed his duties with the shipbuilding
company.
X
The action of the provost marshal
in the Rosenthal case sustains disci-
pline in the
Department Backs Army and up
Discipline of the denart.
ment toward the National Army and.
whenever possible, toward the former
National Guard
Civilian interference with disciplinary
or organization measures in camp or
cantonment obviously is opposed to
every principle of converting a group
of civilians into a military body: and
yet it seems intolerab1e that wrong
to soldier boy through neglect or in
competence of his officers should go un-
checked through Difference to the cour-
tesies of the service or fear of in
vestigaton.
National camp commanders find diff
Guilty in securing discipline from the
fact that men and officers know one an
other in civil life; and this always leads
to the suspicion of partiality and con-
seduent jealousies in the command. The
captain of the company should be the
best friend in the company to every
man in the company, but that means in
their army life. and the regard should
be for the individual and not because
of the friends at home. Many mother
feels less anxious about her boy be-
cause he is under captain who has
been a lifelong friend of the family:
but really, unless the captain is lit
tie more than human, it is not the best
thing for the boy. Intended kindness to
the boy may result in complaints that
go back home.
These complaints produce local irri-
tation and eventually, as in the Rosen-
thai case. find their way through the
representative in Congress or some
other person of supposed influence to
the War Department, which then must
make an investigation, and. right or
wrong, put the officer to annoyance and
cause company trouble.
But the most serious difficulty in the
National Guard is that SO many of it's
officers were chosen for reasons other
than their special fitness for the rank
they hold, and the War Department in
its effort to protect the boys and secure
efficiency is recommending that the un-
fit be sent before a board of their peers
to be retired if the board so advises.
The officers thus separated from the
service Invariably think themselves
victims of hostile discrimination. and
their first thought is to get the utmost
influence to work upon the War De-
partment from the lowest to the high
est. in hope to defeat the action of the
divisional officers in an honest effort to
secure an organization fit to cope with
like number of Teuton. veterans.
If this expedition were only a kinder
garten exercise. like that to tn Mexican
border, amiability might still be good
reason for retaining a poor officer in his
command. but this undertaking calls for
the best in all respects that the nation
can give, and one of the finest things
in the world is self-sacritice. So, when
pFolHeT Officers nave lounu against d
man, his best course is to find some
other way of serving the country, and
the War Department should not. the
Army should not. be put to the harrow
ing at the instance of his powerful
friends of making explanations or re-
versing decisions, perhaps not infalli-
bic. but always sincere, against the re-
jected officer of the National Guard.
AS result of repeated applications
by Senator salisbury of Delaware. the
War Department a few
A Rad weeks ago issued orders
Precedent oi 'Ne ieoi 8 i'iNa'ioh