The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-01-14
COMMISSIONS IN
ARMY PLENTIFUL
Privates Who Show Right Timber
viii Become Officers Under
Pershing.
MANY LIEUTENaNTs NEEDED
vromotional Scheme Outlined at Head.
quarters Which Paves Way for
Rapid Advancement of Men
From the Ranks.

With the American Army In France.
Apparently the humble doughboy is
coming into his own In this war. A
promotion scheme has just been out
lined at headquarters in conformity
with a recent general order from
Washington which paves the way for
rapid advancement for men from the
ranks who display ability for higher
commands.
Arrangements are already made
whereby noncommissioned officers who
look like they are made of officers
timber will be sent to the army can
didates' school on recommendation
from their superior officers.
IL they make good they will be as
signed to vacancies as second lieuten-
ants In replacement divisions advanc-
ing later to combat divisions where
promotion may be expected to be rapid
In the event of heavy casualties among
the officers.
Many Lleutenants Needed.
In order to have sufficient officers
In readiness at all times no limit Is
placed upon the number of second lieu
tenants In replacement divisions, 1t be.
ing recommended that they have at
least three times az many as combat
divisions.
Under the new general order divi-
sional and other unit commanders are
to consider ronly fighting efficiency
units" In recommending temporary APP
polntments for promotion to line off,
GERS.
The general order makes 1t plain
that such recommendations must be
based solely on demonstrated fitness
and ability to command. Divisional
and other unit commanders are I'm
structed to investigate carefully all
officers records.
All recommendations must be sub
mitted to the commander in chief for
approval.
The six Hooverites who are visit
Ing the American camp awoke the
other morning at reveille. after spend
Ing the night In hay lofts and bar
racks, somewhat better acquainted with
conditions under which the American
soldiers are living.
Too Cold for Pig.
To begin with, this was to have been
the story OF how Everett Colby of New
Jersey, slept with a pig. Mr.. Colby
and the other representatives of Her.
bert Hoover wanted to sleep and eat
under exactly the same conditions as
the doughboys. Thereupon the press
oficers in charge Of the arrangements
framed II up" on the New Jersey
man.
They happened to know that in a
certain village wherein militiamen were
Quartered there were ideal advan-
tages for roughing It. Ten soldiers
were billeted In a certain barn owned
by an old villager who obstinately re
fused to allow the Americans to dis
turb his pig. which had been occupy
Ing the same hay loft with them for
some time.
The press officers arranged to have
one soldier move for the night to give
Mr.. Colby accommodations next to
the pig. Then the following morning
the correspondents were to interview
the Jerseyan on his impression of the
pig and the pig on his impressions of
his fellow ledger.
But the pigs wner had been left
out Of the calculation. The night was
cold so the villager moved the pig into
his own quarters. where there was fire.
So the world will never know what
Mr.. Colby thought Of the pig and vice
versa.