The spectator., 1919-10-21

temporary officers who, with their reg ular officers, will complete their quota of the 1S.000. These selections are well under way and 1t will be necessary that the discharge from the service of all temporary officers not so selected for retention, be accomplished before November l, 1919.
 This means the discharge within the next five weeks of approximately 10,- 0O0 emergency officers, most of whom desire to remain in the service but for whom there are no vacancies under the law. In determining the manner in which temporary officers are to be retained, the department has been guided by the consideration that the immediate commanders know best the relative merits of the officers under their command and are best qualified to judge which officers will be of the greatest value to the military estab- lishment for the particular work to be accomplished by this establishment between now and June 30. 1920. The army has important work to do before that date, and the retention of tenn porary officers must be based upon their fitness to do this work rather than as reward for their services during the war.
 Ranks Must Be Readjusted.
 The war department has fixed the number of officers that there may be in each grade of the 1S,OO0 officers, thereby terminating the opportunity for extensive promotion that has ex- isted during the war. In getting the 1S,0O0 officers into these grades. there must be sacrifices of rank and pay throughout the service; necessary consequence of readjusting the rank of officers from that held in q military force having 100000 officers to those they can properly hold in force hay ing only 1S,0OO officers.
 The temporary officers to be retained will be largely applicants for perma- nent appointment These officers along with all others have reached grades in the large army raised during the war that they cannot expect to hold in the small peace-time force. A determination of the decrease in rank of these officers in order to properly fit them into the new commissioned force will be made by the war depart ment and announced in orders.
 Much Treaty Legislation Needed.
 Ratification of the treaty of peace with Germany will not end the responsibility of congress in con nection with the pact. There will still remain the question as to how nu- merous provisions of the treaty are to be administered. It Is reasonably cer- tion that will be necessary in order to put into effect many provisions of the treaty so far as the United States is concerned. will see to it that broad powers are retained by the legislative body. or Ut least by the senate. Assum- ing that the treaty, with the League of Nations covenant included. will be rati- fled with certain reservations, it will be necessary for the United States to have representatives on large num- Der of international tribunals.
 The treaty is silent as to how these be appointed. Should congress fail to act. the president would appoint in every instance. But congress, so the leaders in the two houses say, has no thought of failing to act. It will pro- vide, through legislation, if present y,la i.1 <hot oI sentatives of the United States on the international tribunals shall be nomi- mated by the president and confirmed by the senate.
 When the treaty goes into effect there will be opened up an entirely new field of international activity. It Is a field that will call for trained men of the best type. Congress will fix the salaries of these men and will, of course, have to appropriate money to meet the expenses of the United States in participating in the numer- ous new international activities.
 Will Require Many Experts.
 There will have to be mixed arbi- tral tribunal established between each of the allied and associated powers on the one hand and Germany on the other within three months after the of the treaty. Each of these tribunals is to consist of three mem bers. The United States will in case the treaty is ratified, appoint one mem Der of the tribunal which is to repre- sent 1t, Germany will appoint one mem. Der, and the two thus appointed will choose the third. There will also have to be created permanent commission which will advise the council of the League of Nations on military. naval and air questions It will also be nee essary for the United States to name of more than score of other that are 10 deal with problems growing out of the war.
 A typical commission Is the one pro. vided for to deal with the Saar basin. This commission, it will be recalled, is | tn cnpSiSt nf Ava vna,har, .ha.n,, tx,