Evening star., 1919-03-09
lSignal Corps photo.l J

not command men and could not CO.
ordinate. | tried to reply, but he
stated that my major general had
put his signature to the statement
and therefore it must be true. That
is all" But il was not all because
he added: Hes the major general
who showed battalion up ahead and
lost it, tln truth. this major gen
erals name is often and unenviabiy
mentioned.>
I give these two samples of ag
grieved men---two cases as wide apart
are said to have been 5000 officers
in the A. f. f, who received the
same deal"
1t could not he the same deal could
IT?
Here is Vet another. which a Reg
ular Army colonel told me thout---a
coored officer, ca plain ana tight
er, risen from the ranks. Well known
to the colonel in past campaigns.
Colonel" ! asked him. "what are
the rights of it?" He shook his head.
Darn if know he said.
One of his lieutenants, going through
Rlois. met this colored captain 1t the
sleeping barracks assigned them,
Lands sakes," he said, II Wouldn't t
sleep a dawg here
Are you up for reciassification?'
inquired the lieutenant politely
"Yaas, that's what dey call II,
been in de Army thirty three years,
an ii has taken all dat time to find
out am mentally. morally and phys
ically disqualified to be a soger"'
Darn ii known said the colonel
at has been terrible war--n.w, com
never dreamed of such war---fead- :
ing about it told you nothing. Into II
you fling all kinds of new made offi-
GERS. Some were bound not TO line
up to it. make mistakes, become con-
fused. or even show yellow as
among the allies. The French had
Limoges, where they canned more
officers than we did There was no time
to teach them In battle. They must be
weeded out quick. Suppose your son
was in their outfit!
at was not G.. Q. 13l, but human
nature" he continued. Where power
exists ii can be abused--by hasty
Judgment. by prejudice, by passion,
not necessarily in cold blood TO cover
up ones own mistakes, as is so often
accused. Among the combating troops
IL was possible for u genera! who
did not think much of q certain
colonel to send him back TO the rear
as not fitted TO command troops IN
combat. With troops in combat, il had
to be accepted. No regular report was
put In. A colonel could send back II
ma jor or a captain Here and there.
political passions may have entered.
But il was individuals. remcmber~--in
dividuals The Regular Army might he
sore with the National Guard, and the
National Guard with the Reserve
Corps; but, Notwithstanding, there
have been very few men. indeed, elm
mated from the Army by canning
The efforts of the directing chiefs
have been. right through, to get the
right men i'm the right place
What about this We hear" ! ask
ed "of Regular Army officers rushing
front as soon as victory was seen TO
be close at hand?'
1T was natural 10 want their
chance at the front" he answered.
MANY had sacrificed themselves by
flling necessary employments in the
rear"
some say that vacancies We're
made for them at the front"
'If so, IL was done by individuals"
he insisted. Regular Army men were
canned like any others. They tried TO
safeguard against injustice by this
hearing at Blois."
How"
by old Army regulations q supe-
rfor, in time Of combat could relieve