Evening star., 1921-04-24
BY f. =. p. CUSHMAN.

ME recently published list of
Army promotions will cause
much comment, both in the
rank land file of the Army
itself and among the many thousands
now in civil life who, during their
war service, came into contact with
the personalities involved. There are
two standpoints from which this mat
ter of reward for service must be
viewed. Primarily. promotion must
be considered as a reward for serv-
ice rendered by those promoted. and
secondarily. it must be considered
as an incentive to future service by
those of lower rank.
The present situation, shorn of its
details. is this: At the time of the
declaration of war with Germany we
possessed a small Army. officered, for
the most part. by graduates of West
tary school lin the world. Around
this nucleus of highly trained men,
and by spreading its elements of in
struction and training over a vast
area, We built up an immense mill
tary machine. calling to its service
men from every walk of life, and
offering it from that vast reservoir
that makes America a great nation
of Intelligent and self-reliant youth
This Army made its magnificent
record. Some organizations had
greater opportunities for distinction
than others; some enjoyed greater ad-
vantages Of training and experience
than others; but, in their essential
elements of spirit, of devotion. of
courage and of potential service. they
were alike. The war being over. and
won. we have dispersed this great
fighting machine; and remains to US
the Regular Army, with which We
started. Among the officers of this
Army are the men whose technical
knowiedge-active,' in some cases. in
direct command of the elements OF
combat; in other cases active vicar
iousiy through thousands of men in
structed and trained-made a great
Army, efficient and effective.
without Claim of Reward.
It would be an insult to the spirit
Of the Regular Army to imagine thai
these men either expect or claim any
/ less opportunity of service. They
| played their part. as all men worthy
| the name. played theirs in those days
| of test-and that it was a great par,
| and greaeiy played. only those AMI
mated by factional jealousy or per.
| sonal animosity will deny. Tha
a.. spirit, proved by long years of un'
: tpectAcuiar service in times of peace
and written large upon the history OF
| every war in which we have ever
engaged as a nation. was the great
force that directed and made effec-
tive the sublime spirit Of service that
rose in this country in 1917. and tina,
won the war.
And now. with our great machine
Of war dissembled, and with our
minds turned to and absorbed by the
tremendous problems Of reconstruc-
tion and re-established peace. we
have largely forgotten our eighteen
months of supreme effort. 1t is nat
ural; We suffered no such agonizing
and ineffaceable wounds as did 'other
nations: we are volatile people.
anyawy; and we have a lot OF work
to do.
The Regular Army. like the rest
Of US, has gone quietly back to the
Job. Men who have handled colossal
responsibilities, whose success or
failure involved thousands and thou
sands Of lives. or millions OF treas
| ure. or the vital alternatives OF col
lapse or victory. have gone back to
the small details Of ordinary peace
time Army routine with perfect
cheerfufness, and with no thought OF
nartfcular reward or distinction-but
with the pleasant consciousness OF
big Job we'll done. Major generals
have become colonies, brigadier gen.
erals have become majors; men who
have commanded divisions in battle
find themselves in command of regt-
ments-and it is all in the days
work. In the small regular estab-
lishment there are only few places
Of distinction as possible rewards Of
service, and many men who merit
them. and every enc knows it.
The ideals of the regular service
hold as their vital element the spirit
Of self-effacing service, and that
xpirit is manifested today in the
quiet laying aside of distinction, as