Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-14

unit at Leland Stanford University.
and March 6 will sail from San
Francisco for Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii, on the Cambria, where
he will arrive March 10. After
returning to San Francisco on March
% he will visit the following points:
Monterey, Calf; Corvallis, Greg:
City. Utah University of Utah; Fort
d. A. Russell. Wyoming; Fort Collins.
Colo. Colorado Agricultural College,;
Fort Riley, Kansas: Fort Leaven-
worth. Kansas; Kansas City. Mo. tOr-
ganiZed Reserves: Columbia. Mo.
University of MissourD: Norman,
Okla. University of Oklahoma): Fort
sill. oklahoma; Fort Bliss, Texas: Fort
sam Houston, Texas: Fort Mcintosh.
Texas; Fort Benning, Georgia. Fort
Bragg. North Carolina. Col. Hand is
due to arrive in Washington on June 6.
Assistant Secretary of War Mac
Nider will be the guest of honor at
the second of a series of luncheons
given by the Washington branch Of
the United States Infantry Association
tomorrow at 1870 pm. at the Hotel
La Fayette. Maj. Gen. John i. Hines.
chief of staff, and Maj. Gen. Dennis
T.. Nolan, deputy chief of staff, will
also be guests.
From authentic sources il is under
stood that consideration by the War
Department General staff is again be
ing given to the recommends ton made
two years ago by the department that
the President be authorized to retire
or remove any chief or assistant chief
of any branch of the Regular Army.
Indignant protest arose over this pro
vision, with the result that the propo-
sal was defeated. Revival has been
made of this proposal. to which has
been added a clause that would pre-
vent the reappointment of any chief
The carrying out of any such pro
posal. it is pointed out by those oppos-
ing this recommendation. will have
detrimental effect, especially upon the
officers in the technical and supply
branches. That vigorous objection
will be made To the proposal, even in
the face OF War Department approval.
is conceded. the objections being based
on the invidiuuS distinction il seeks 10
add to the present inconsistency be
tween line general officers and those
of the staff branches. Appointment as
general officer i'll the line is perma-
nent. il is explained. and endures until
the date of retirement. while general
officer appointments in the staff
branches. as it obtains at the present
time, are for four years, with reap
polntment within the discretion of the
President. This proposal, which would
make general officer appointments to
the staff branches less secure. creates
the possibility that a statute impos
ing conditions suggested for staff gen
eral officers might be applicable to
general officers of the line. Although
the proposal has not yet been formally
presented, some interesting develop
ments are expected in this connection
in the near future
Considerable speculation is being
INDUCED in in Army and Navy circles
as to "A proposed revision of the re-
tirement laws relating TO members of
the militarynaVal personnel. For the
past year and a half this subject has
been brought up from time to time
and since the converting of the present
Congress. the subject has been re-
Vlved with the resultant consequence
that statistics are being compiled on
the composition of the retired lists
the cause of transfer from the active
list. and the age of officers upon their
retirement. Inquiries which have re-
Gently been received by the War and
Navy Departments with respect to
those officers who have been placed
on the retired lists for other than
age, indicate that proposals will be
made for the adjustment Of retire
rent for age. This would mean that
officers would be retained on active
service indefinitely.
Immediate disfavor. it is conceded.
would be made by members Of the mil
itary-naval personnel on any such pro-
posal. as it would stagnate promotion
and would prove generally demoraliz-
ing to the services. No corresponding
benefit would be derived. it is pointed
, out. by the retention Of officers on
active duty until physically incapaci-
tated regardless of age. and it is pre-
sumed that the system of retiring for
service would he abandoned The
only advantage to the service in pro
longing the period of active service
was that afforded by the Navy in 1916.
! when. in order to make it correspond
with the retiring age Of the Army. the
retired age was advanced from 60 to
ca years. This change possessed GER
tain merit for the sake Of uniformity.
| hut no conclusive evidence has been
| shown that compensating benefit was
! derived in requiring naval officers to
TOURS.