Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-22
RESENT CHARGES
MADE WHOLESALE
Older Army Officers Think
Criticisms of ''Desk Commits
i sions" Too Sweeping.
CLASSES ARE EXCEPTED


Blanket charges against thousand
of young Americans holding Army COM
missions who now are stationed in
Washington or in this country are re-
scented by older Army officers of the
type who have no sympathy with
slackers and who have seen rigorous
service themselves.
Officers who have seen active field
service usually are most severe in their
criticism of desk commissions" and
.bombproof jobs" They are inclined
to believe, however, that wholesale
condemnation of younger men who
have not yet been to France is an un-
justified slur on men who are seeking
TO serve their country, and detriment
10 the service, which requires large
number of men on duty in this country.
Of1cial explanations of the awards OF
certain classes of commissions may be
forthcoming later, but in the meantime
officers state informally that the rea-
sons for some of the assignments now
under criticism are perfectly applicable
to those who know the circumstances
One class of men who could be under
no possible imputation of seeking
'slacker" jobs. it was pointed out to-
day, are those who obtained commits
sions as reserve officers. under the ma
tional defense act of 1916. and auto
matically entered the service when war
was declared.
Another class is made up of the men
who went to training camps in an effort
to get, commissions following the entry
of the United States into war. before
the draft ages were fixed, and who
were discharged because they were
physically unfit Still anxious to serve
their country. but having been pro-
nounced unfit for field service, these
men then sought to enter the service
for clerical work, and many of them
were given commissions.
Another Unfair Element.
A third element of unfairness in the
reflections cast upon men in uniform
who now are in Washington lies in the
assumption that they all are of draft
age. 1t was stated Many of them are
over draft age. others who are within
the scope of the draft have been pro-
nounced unfit for line duty, and there
upon sought service, not because they
wanted to keep out of the war. but be-
cause they wanted to take as much part
IN 1t as they could
Case after case can be cited, officers
state, where these older men have given
I'D remunerative incomes from their
business establishments or from profess
sions to serve for salaries which are
nominal for them. In some cases their
living expenses in Washington. with
their families are far above their actual
pay.
There is no denial that there are in
washington, and in other cities of this
country, men of-draft age. physically
nj to go to France, who are being held
various sound military reasons. An of
dcial of the War Department stated to-
day that In due time there is no doubt
that all the men physically able to see
Dervace in France will be sent there.
But men are not being sent there be-
lore they are needed.
50 rapid has been the expansion Of
eertatn branches Of the war machinery
nat large numbers of embryo officers
have not yet been assimilated. They
are being trained as rapidly as possible,
and IN many instances are performing
yaauaole service here. Take the Signal
Corps for an example, which. April 1.
59I7. had but IS officers and 1870 en-
uSted men, and by December 81 had
200 officers and $3.50 non-commis-
stoned men
Needs Many Mem.
1t Is = recognised fact, but seems to
have been overlooked in recent as
1eults upon officers stationed here, that
certatn branches Of the service, like
me quartermasters department, re-
Qutre large number Of officers and
men in this country.
There today are men In the Quarter
masters Corps who were assigned
tnere from officers training camps, who
3complained vigorously because they
Lere not put into branches of the serv-
lee which seemed to permit an earlier
for France.
an z rev ofdces of the War Depart
ment the work is of a highly conf
Genital nature. and in others it is sim
1iar 70 that performed by civilians.
put It entails long hours, strict disci-
p.ins; ana other features which have
resulted In putting the men who are
oong 1t into uniform to make them
subject to military rules, and neces.
n1Llly men who held commissions had
Ie assigned to command them.
critics OF the department who arIepe
tnat men Of draft age are being hanS-
kaiety nrst" commissions, an officer
St1eeo To-Day. seem to be unaware that
nce early in January the policy has
4een In effect that no men Of dr.ft
80 were to be commissioned exeenf
f0nder certain exceptional circum
esances To get for man a Commits
eIon the head of q branch of the service
1no considers this man Necessary must
cttle mat fact and also must Convince
tne appointing powers that men over
0ralt age could not be procured to
render similar service.
Especially Fitted for Posts.
In this class certain men have oh
<Aineo commissions because they are
4gaitned for certain specialized tasks,
einty OF technical or scientific ma
ture- Working with the National Re-
search Council at the bureau of stand
trds. and in certain special lines of
mvestdgatfon connected with gas de-
Tense, aviation and kindred lines are
Ypung men who are considered Of high
fue In somea cases these men have
been trained in German universities.
and the country is making use of the
knowledge Of processes that GERMANY
has evolved, and in other cases these
younger scientific men are developing
eno-submarine. anti-aircraft and