Evening star., 1926-06-13

| IOr SdlduIAy III
action in the Philippines in 1900. This
proposal would not only promote Maj.
Rowan. but would create q precedent
for the establishment Of the promo
ton principle. for the Army retired
| list
In discussing this subject last week,
the Secretary pointed out that total
of 6.O94 awards Of the distinguished
service cross have been made to indi-
viduals, a large number Of whom were
or are officers. Should a precedent be
established by promoting Maj. Rowan,
and assuming that the equitable pol
lev would be followed Of treating all
similar cases alike, Secretary Davis
held to the opinion that "the preser-
walton Of the present retirement sys-
| tenn would be seriously jeopardized."
The existence of the retired list OF
| the Regular Army is twofold in pur-
pose. First, it is to attract to the
| Army a high class Of commissioned
personnel by providing for their self
maintenance after long years Of ac-
tive service: and secondly, after physi-
cal disability has rendered them unfit
for further active service, they can be
placed on the retired list, which will
keep the active list of the Army vital
lied. Under existing law the principle
Of promotion Is applicable only to the
active list Of the Army; officers passed
from the active list to the retired list
standing until death in the grade they
held on the active list at the time of
retirement. This procedure is followed
with the exception of those officers
who had Civil War service, officers In
this class being advanced one grade
upon retirement, but remaining In
that grade until their death.
The present retirement system of
the Regular Army. the Secretary con-
tended, did not intend to promote a
retired officer, such procedure being
| inimical to the sound principles gov
erning the retirement OF the Regular
| Establishment.
Lieut.. Col. Leonard w. Prunty, Cav.
! chief Of the administrative section or
the militia bureau. who last week ter
minated his detail Of duty with that
office. has been relieved by Lieut.. Col.
Arthur w. Bradbury, just recently
relieved from duty in the Hawaiian
Islands. Mai John w. Leonard, Inf.
was relieved last week from duty in
| the arms, equipment and finance sec
| ton Of the office of the chief of in
| fantry, where he has been serving
| in the capacity Of liaison officer be-
| tween the infantry office and several
| of the War Department branches on
DEVELOPMENT projects. He has been
| relieved by Maj. Thompson Lawrence.
| Inf. (tanks), who has been on duty
at the tank school. new arrival
| in Washington is Capt. Harry j..
Farmer, Inf, who has been on duty
as National Guard instructor at
has been assigned to duty in the
administrative section of the militia
bureau office. Col. Louis c. Scherer.
Cav, chief of the equipment section
of the militia bureau, has been re-
lieyed by Col. Guy S. Norve!l. Cav.
Though Col Scherer is under orders,
on the expiration of his leave, to re-
port to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. for
duty, it Is expected that these will be
revoked before they become effective
and that he will be ordered to duty at
an eastern station.
| A final examination of applicants
for appointment as second lieutenants
! in the Regular Army, under the pro-
visions of Army regulations 605-5, to
be held in the United States. In the
Philippines, Hawaiian and Panama
Canal Departments, and with the
! II. 8. Army forces in China. from
| June q to 26. 1926, inclusive, has
been authorized by the Secretary of
War. This examination will be open
| to all classes Of eligibles and Will be
held with a view to filling such vacan-
! cies accruing to June 80, 1926, as
shall remain in the combatant
branches Infantry, cavalry, field ar
| tillery, coast artillery, air service.
! corps Of engineers, and signal corps)
after the commissioning Of the 1925
class at the military academy, which
graduated yesterday. This examina-
| ton will not be open to candidates
for appointment in the Philippine
Scouts.
Opposition was voiced by the War
Department last week to the proposal
which would select any individual of
the Army for preferential treatment
to the prejudice of all others Of the
same class. This opposition has been
occasional because Of the fact that
| recently a number Of former officers
of the Regular Army, who voluntarily
resigned from the service, have taken
steps to have themselves reappointed
AUCTION SALES.
TOMORROW,