The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-04-09
SMOKING THEM OUT

tThe washington POSl, ApIH D. Aoio'
Slackers who are skulking behind
desk Jobs in the War Department are
apt to see service at the front. The
word comes from the department that
Gen. March, acting chief of staff, is
proceeding to weed out the officers
of draft age on duty here He will
send them into the field unless there
exists some bona fide reason why
they should be exempted from such
service Chiefs of bureaus have been
called upon for detailed reports as to
the personnel of their bureaus and for
a statement as to whether each man
who wears a uniform is absolutely es-
sential in his present assignment or
whether his work can be done by a
civilian or an officer who is not ply
sically qualified for field service. II
he can be spared, it is intimated that
he will soon receive marching orders
which will send him where he can be
of more service to his country.
Congress has displayed live in
terest in the large corps of army Of
ficers on duty in Washington. An
other resolution has just been passed
by the Senate calling upon the de-
partment for information as to the
number of staff officers stationed
here. The general staff recognizes
that the situation is one that deserves
investigation.
Congressional curiosity was aroused
by the development that there are
now about $4,000 noncombatant Off
GERS; in the army, as compared with
but $4,000 combatant officers. A sup
| CRITICAL inquiry showed that the non
combatant corps included number
of young men of draft age who had
Deell SFdlll6u COMMISSIONS anu WOiS
excused from the dangers and incon
veniences of field service. This Is
what aroused the Indignation of sen
ators and representatives, who when
the selective draft bill was up fol
consideration preached the justice Of
that proposition and assured the pub
lie that under it there would be ne
favoritism; that all men of draft age
would be treated alike.
; The Senate's resolution of inquiry
on this subject set the War Depart
: ment at work to ascertain the eXac
facts and the movement looking to tn
assignment of number of young OF
!. fcers to field duty is the result. Their
5 may be technical duties performed b
4 some of the officers of draft age whic
0 would warrant their retention /
. Washington, but it is very difficult t
: imagine what they could be.
t There is no disposition to criticiz
e the staff corps, since it is general
recognized that many of these of
GERS are dtained in Washingto
against their will and upon importar
# duty, But the number of them is S
large in proportion to the number {
II fighting officers that an inquiry is nj
:" unreasonable. No doubt many {
70 them could well be spared, and pro-
ably will be, in the weeding-out pr
n cess.
o The chief of staff Is doing we'll
n taking this matter in hand. He wi
r perform a real service to the countr
t. by sorting out the staff officers VII
n are not performing necessary servic
Ii in Washington and sending the
l. where they are needed More impo
,r tant still. he should not permit an
officer of draft age to escape the r
sponsibilities of active service
this way the honor of the uniform wi
ta noaipt nod upcullod