The Washington herald., 1918-03-21

VIII Call for Statement.
While cannot express an opinion
on this matter until it Is investigated,
which would be to render q verdict
before the submission of testimony"
said Senator Chamberlain. Il cannot
say too strongly that any abuse in
the granting of commissions should
be Immediately rectihed- I believe
that this matter Is one which should
be taken up thoroughly.
Il believe that many Of our nom
combatant reserve officers are men Of
real patriotism and high ability,
whose special knowledge is Of milf
tary value to the army. But when
nontechnical men OF draft age are
said to be assigned to duty which
keeps them permanently in. this coun-
try, IL seems time that some decisive
action was taken. 1 am glad that The
Washington Herald has taken the
matter up"
Senator Chamberlain also intimated
that q member OF the Senate Mill
Isry Affairs Committee would shortly
introduce q resolution requesting the
War Department TO furnish o state
ment showing how many OF the 62.000
noneombatant officers in the United
States army are within the draft age.
Members of the House Committee on
Military Affairs state that unless the
War Department Immediately tightens
Up on the issuance Of commissions
they will institute a searching inquiry
into the promiscuous granting of COM
- =.
Unless the War Department. on its
own initiative, adopts a regulation re-
quiring that some distinctive mark,
such as a badge or chevron be worn
by stan officers. to distinguish them
from field officers, it is highly prob
able that legislation providing for
such a distinguishing mark will be
introduced in the House. A decided
majority of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs is in favor OF this action.
Justice to Men Over There.
We do not wish to do injustice to
the men over here" said one man,
but we wish. to do more justice to
the men over there who are risking
their lives"
The granting Of commissions has
dropped almost to nothing in the past
few days. The huge Ordnance De-
partment. with more than 1000 officers
in its military personnel. has granted
no commissions at all. repecting prac-
tically all applications. A number Of
men have been disappointed and have
made complaints to their representa-
tives who had assured them that their
commissions would be granted without
trouble.
An immense reorganization Is going
on in the War Department. The num-
Der of officers in the various bureaus
of the War Department will be strictly
limited. a certain number of officers
of each grade being allowed
0rdaanee Department.
A request has been made by the
Ordnance Department that II be al
lowed more officers Of higher rank
than the original allotment provided
for. This increased number Of Of
hcers of high rank will be set on by
a corresponding decrease in the
original allotment OF second lieuten-
ants, a large proportion Of whom
are within the draft age.
While there is some talk Of re-
Voking the commissions Of a number
of these second lieutenants, who, in
most cases. are performing purely
clerical work and who Are without
apparent qualification for the duties
of line officer, 1t is not believed
that this drastic action will be re-
sorted to. At present. It Is considered
probable that all officers of draft age
now serving in the War Department
will be offered the opportunity to
serve their country in France or In
the transportation service.
But should an officer of the draft
age in Glass 1 or Ia not accept the
opportunity to enter on active field
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.