Evening star., 1926-03-14

from the preliminary exchange OF
views that the majority of the high
ranking officers participating in the
conference were not inclined to favor
any suggestion SaV0rinS of an exten-
Sive alteration of the present list. In
fact, the indications were that the Off
GERS attending the conference felt that
insurmountahle difficulties would pre-
sent themselves. which would make
any readiustment of the situation inn
possible. Any material change, 1t was
pointed out. involving numerous in
dividuals would merely operate to
transfer the discomfort from one group
of officers to another, and in the final
readiustment of the promotion list
there would be Just as many aggrieVed
officers as there are at the present
time.
AS the discussion waXed warm it
was very apparent that this attitude
was modified to a certain extent, and
toward the end Of the conference
there appeared to be a general agree
ment that something constructive
might be accomplished. provide" il
could he made clear to the partfC pa
tory members of the conference thas
injustice had been done to cert ain
groups of officers in the formation ct
the promotion list as it stands todaa
thing was achieved in this direction 70
adjust this vexatious promotion tan
gle-that is, to allay the feelings of
those who consider themselves al
'verselv affected by the existing situa-
tion-that it was not at all improbable
that the Air Service would he success
full in securing legislation either at
this session or at some future session
of separate promotion list 1t is
known that the War Department from
the Secretary of War down is violent
ly opposed to any such legislation. and
as it is pointed out. should the Gre
alton of separate promotion list for
the Air Service he authorized. it Is
certain to produce an increased state
OF disorder and discomfort throughout
the regular establishment. The seem
ing inSurmountable difficulties attend
ing the revision of the promotion list
was realized at the conference. but the
view was held by some that the entire
question should be studied with an
omen mind and that the broadest Wis
ion should he exercised in the consld-
GRAFTON of all angles of the situation.
Though the conference WAS con
yened with very little prospect that
the attending members would favor
a rectification of the situation. 1t was
finally decided to have the entire pro
motion system considered hy the per-
Sonnel section of the general stan.
TTpon the agreement Of this decision,
each chief of branch was requested ny
Gen King to prepare and present MS
individual views on this subject. and
If he favored a revision of the Army
promotion list. to suggest the means
and methods by which the revision
could he accomplished. -
Consideration is being given. 1t is
understood. to resort to legal proceed
ings. notably through the instrument
tality of the writ of mandamus. to OBJ
tain changes of position on the single
list. The effectiveness of this process
is questioned in view of the known re-
mctance of the courts to interfere
with executive functions. but as
certain amount of success has at
tended the efforts Of certain naval of
ficers in cases involved with the con
troller general in the matter of with
held pay. the suggestion has been
made that the same method might be
EMPLOYED in enforcing a revision OF
the promotion list. IIOtracted dura-
ton, it is pointed out, would attend
this method of readjustment, as the
War Department through Government
attorneys would not drop the issue
with one decision which grants the
writ, and the case would most prob
ably he taken To the United States
Supreme Court
Orders will shortly he issued by
the War Department placing Capt
Nelson NJ. Holderman, 4th Infantry.
who until recently was stationed at
Fort Williams, Me. on the retired
list of the Regular Army. for gun
wounds received in action. From
authentic War Department sources. ii
is stated that Capt. Holderman holds
the. distinction of being the most dec
GRATED member of the American EXpe
dtionary Forces in France. holding
the highest decorations of every allied
nation. He has also been awarded the
American congressional medal of hon
or. in addition to the distinguished
service cross.
With the proposal that the chief of
chaplains be made brigadier general.
a spirited discussion is going on in
service circles relative to cha nging the
title of this office to that of chaplain
general. In certain quarters, this dis
cussion has gone further, it being in
sisted that the chief of chaplains
should he on a parity with the. chiefs
of the other War Department branches
of major general.
The question has been asked as to
why the chief of chaplains is not ap-
pointed ma jor general. which rank Is
held by all other chiefs of bra nCheS.
The view Is held by those supporting
this contention that the moral and
religious work in the regular estab-
lishment is just as important as the
training and supplying of the troops.
Just what attitude the War Depart
ment will take eAon this subject is not
known, but there is a concerted move
ment on foot to change the title of
the chief of chaplains to that of chap
lain general.
During the first week in May, a
pan-sectarian conference on the moral
and religious training in the Army
will be held in Washington, which
will be similar to the one held in
April, 1923.
Speculation is rife in Army circles
as to who will be appointed to succeed
Maj. Gen. Harry Taylor. chief ot
Engineers, who will be placed on the
retired list of the Regular Army
June %. due to his reaching the
statutory age limit of 64 years. AL
though several names have been
mentioned i'm connection with this
approaching vacancy, that of Brig
Gen. Edgar Jadwin. assistant chief
of Engineers, is the one which is
being most prominently mentioned at
the present time. Gen. Jadwin rem
dered exceptional service during the
war i'm France as chief of the Engi-
neer Advanced Section. line of COM
munications and also as director of
light railways and roads in the
theater of operat atoms and his selec-
tion as the next chief of the Army
Engineers would be a most popular
one throughout the military estab
lishment.
With the elevation of Gen. Jadwin