Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-23

Washington, March 2S-Reports that
commissions have been issued to $4,000
noncombatant officers, atho the nom
combatant officers number only So
600, and that thousands of the noncom-
blatant officers are of draft age, are 10
be investigated by congress.
The senate committee on military al
| fairs has decided 10 act, and senator
| Thomas, of Colorado democrat. TO-DAY
introduced resolution calling on the
| war department TO state how many
combatant reserve officers are of draft
age.
IF reports are true that there has
been wholesale comm. ssonng Of young
men of draft age to staff joins, Whereby
they not only escape the draft. but will
! escape fighting for their country, ! do
not think it is a very good thing for the
| morale of the American army, senator
| Thomas sad.
a Maze OF Uniforms.
Washington is the grand headquar-
ters of the noncombatant officers for
there are few men young or old. Of the
thousands performing even clercal
duties in the war Offices who have
been unable To obtain commissions.
There have not been so many uniforms
in Washington s.nce the grand review
of the union army at the close of the
civil war,
Many young .ft.cers Of wealth and
influence are sharing the disconforts
of an Uvercrowded capital with hum
dreds of men of draft age, but more
modest circumstances who have oo-
tanned noncombatants commissions, war
department clerksnips carrying eXemp-
tons from the draft at the request Of
Secretary Baker or assignment by
Secretary of the Navy Daniels 10 the
inactive list" of the naval reserve
The Case Of Brown.
Perhaps the most unusual noncom-
blatant commission so far issued is that
possessed by L. Anes Brown, the ~
year old bosom friend Of Secretary Tu-
multy and late assistant of George
Creel. chairman of the committee on
public information. Young Mr.. Brown
placed in class OF the draft during
his service in the Creel bureau was
made first lieutenant and assigned TO
Intelligence duties solely in Wash
!ngton and New York with the proviso
that he should mot be assigned TO any
troops under this appointment
Humphrey Redtield. son OF the secre-
tary of commerce is an assistant pay
clerk with desk in the navy supply
bureau. He vas commissioned an en-
sign after his graduation from Amherst
college and since that time has married
and brought mis- bride 10 Washington.
One Daniels in Service.
The only one OF Secretary Daniels
four sons in the service is Josephus Jr.,
who enlisted in the marine reserve
corps and was assigned 10 duty in the
marine corps office n Philadelphia.
Recently he was commissioned sec
ond lieutenant IN the Quartermasters
department Of the marine corps re-
serve. Lieutenant Daniels duties do not
take him 10 sea
Secretary Of Agriculture Houston
son David Jr.. has been commissioned
an ensign n the navy and assigned to
duty on a patrol vessel in the second
naval district HIS service Will be on
the New England coast.
Secretary OF State Lansing has no
children. The only representative OF
the family in the commissioned ranks
Of the service is John Foster Dulles.
Mrs. Lansing's nephew, who has been
commissioned a captain and assigned
TO the army war college.
Hammond Is Exempted.
John Hays Hammond, Jr. son Of the
millionaire mining engineer. IS IN