Evening star., 1924-12-21

the treatment OF certain respiratory
diseases, with a report on 2.2O0
cases.
Though the promotion status of
officers of the Regular Establishment
showed that as of December o there
were 136 vacancies in the grade of
second lieutenant, and though the
1925 West Point class numbers 24S
men who, according to the statutes
are entitled to be commissioned in
the grade of second lieutenant upon
their graduation in June, unofficially
il is understood, An examination will
be held in the Spring for civilians
and warrant officers of the Army.
In the examination held last Spring
for appointment to the Regular Army
153 passed out of over 800 who took
the test. OF those who successfully
passed in this competitive examina-
tion, 121 were actually commissioned.
Statistics show that about 20 vacan-
cies occur each month in the Regular
Army, which rate of separations from
the service will just about compen-
safe for the West Point class upon
their graduation next June. 1t is
expected that the War Department
Will make an announcement in the
very near future relative to the ex-
animation in the Spring, N the event
Orders will shortly be issued by the
War Department authorizing Coils
John j. Toffey, Infantry, and Frank
g. Bolles, Infantry, both of whom are
on duty in the Office of the Chief of
Infantry, to inspect Infantry Reserve
Officers Training Corps units located
in the East and three in the Middle
West Col. Toffey will leave Wash
n I Wi
about February l, while Col. Bolles
will start on his visits of inspection
January s, returning to Washington
February II.
Announcements are being made
almost daily by the War Department
of awards for gallantry in action per-
formed prior to April 6, 1917, by per-
sons who were in the Army July 9.
1918. The act making appropriations
for the support of the Army for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1919.
which provided for various new types
of decorataions, placed a limitation
upon the granting of such decora-
tions, which, in substance. required
that the award of decora tions be
made within three years of the date
OF the performance of the act or serv-
ice during the World War. The bill,
however, further provided for the
award of decorations for services
rendered prior to the World War
where official records already on file
would support the award, provided
that the person proposed for award
was actually a member of the Army
July 3, 1918. Under the circum-
stances it was absolutely necessary
for the department to concentrate
attention upon awards of decora-
tions for services during the World
War or otherwise veterans of this
war would lose any regard for their
services. Hence until all World War
questions were cleared up no atten-
tion could be paid to the examination
of records reporting distinguished
services in some prior war
Now that World War decorations
can no longer be awarded. the De-
partment is engaged in a careful ex-
animation of pre-war records in
order to find the cases for which dis
tinguished service crosses, distin
guished service medals and silver star
citations should have been awarded
had the present law been in effect
at the time of the performances of
the gallant action cited. At the time
that the reports were filed it was not
known that decorations would later
be awarded for such services. and,
though the search through the files
has been a tedious one, excellent
progress is being made.
suit has just been fled in the Court
Of Claims by First Sergt. Daniel Mac
kenzie, retired, who in serving during
the World War as major. Quartermaster
Corps, is entitled to the pay of q
warrant officer. The suit was filed by
the claimant so that he could recover