Evening star., 1926-06-20

\ written examination has been re
Quired in the past, but hereafter any
officer on the general staff eligible list
or a graduate of the command and
general staff school, Army War Col
lece, or the refreShcr course at the
medical field service school, or who
has satisfactorily completed CORE
spondencc course to be prescribed by
the surgeon general Of the Army and
conducted by the medical field service
school Will not be required TO take q
written problem Instead, they Will
be given an oral examination on the
general subject of organization and
administration of their war services.
Medical department officers. accord
Ing to the national defense act, are
the only members of the Army re-
quired to undergo q professional eX-
animation for promotion, the reten-
ton of this requirement being made
on the direct recommendation of the
surgeon general. There is no desire
now, it is pointed out, to deViate from
this policy. On the other hand, since
the main purpose of the examination
was primarily to stimulate study on
the part OF officers, the revision, 1t is
believed, will better accomplish that
objective than the scope of the exam
ination prescribed in the regulations
which are now in force. 1t Is desired
by the surgeon general that those Off
GERS whose promotion is imminent
qualify in either the refresher course
or correspondence course.
The work of revising Army Regula-
tions 1920, which deals with the
Army Nurse Corps. shortly will be
completed and published at an early
date There will be Incorporated in
this revision the regulations govern
ing the retirement of nurses, as pre-
scribed in the act of May 13, 1926.
This provides that an Army nurse
who has served 80 years, or who has
attained the age of so years and has
Heryed 20 years may be placed on a
list. in the discretion Of the Secretary
of War, which has been designated as
the Nurse Corps retired list. AS there
are a number of retirement cases now
pending that part of the regulations
pertaining TO the retirement of Army
nurses probably will be published in
circular form by the adjutant general
In advance Of the approved Army reg
ulations.
Revision Of the retirement laws of
the Regular Army win be made the
subject of a comprehensive study by
the War Department general staff
during the coming Summer. From
time to time during the past year con
siderable criticism has been directed
against the present retirement sys-
TEN of the regular establishment. 1t
is hoped by those objecting TO the
present system that the War Depart
ment'S recommendations on this sub
1eCt will be the means of establishing
the conditions OF retirement upon a
uniform basis.
Others more critical entertain the
view, it is said. that retirement should
hereafter be limited TO those physi-
Cally incapacitated for duty in any
branch of the Army. The implication
IS that I'm officer must be so physical
~ unfit that he cannot be useful in
any capacity. For example, an Of
flcer Of the Cavalry arm might he
considered S physically capable
whether or not he was professionally
qualihed--for service in the Quarter
master Corps assuming there is a
difference in demand that creates a
physical distinction.
The opinion is held by a few that
all retirement laws should be revised
and that there should be uniformity
in this respect among the combined
services now on the same basis rs
10 pay and allowances. In relation
TO the Navy, with its age-in-grade or
service in grade retirement, which is
applicable only in conenction with
promotion by selection existing in the
line and staff Of the naval personnel.
1t is believed that this would require
some unusual adjustment. AS some
radical changes in the Army promo
ton system are contemplated, this
would only complicate further the ef
fort to achieve the reform which the
critics OF the Army retirement system
insist are necessary.
Col. F. w. Coleman, Finance De
partment, assistant to the chief of
finance, will be relieved from this
duty as of August 81 by Col. Edward