Evening star., 1927-11-20


rick board relates to forced retire
ment, the officers of the board having
been quoted as finding it impossible
to indorse any system which shall
violently separate Regular officers
from the service. There appears to be
decided preference to the system
Of voluntary separation Voluntary
separation of officers from the serV-
ice, it was pointed out last week. re-
yquires the determination of the
amount of bonus or gratuity that
shall be paid the individual, who thus
obtains his discharge to return to
civilian status. 1t is felt however, that
in this direction there must be an
Identical provision with respect to the
separation gratuity between officers
Of the Army. Navy and Marine Corps.
In the Britten proposal, applying to
officers of the Navy, and providing for
separation from the commissioned
list. the separation gratuity IS Slo.Uoo
in the case of a lieutenant who Is
discharged from the Navy for fail
nre to be selected for promotion, and
not necessarily a voluntary act on his
part. For lieutenants 0unior Srade) or
the Navy so separated. a gratuity OF
$500 is provided In the WadsWorth
proposal relating to Army officers, the
provision of the separation gratulty,
mentioned was $40 per month for
each wear of commissioned service.
about one-half of the bounty contem-
sDlated in the Britten proposal Tor
naval officers. A casual survey of the
situation reveals consequences that
are detrimental to the military per-
sonnel, and, in view of the conclusions
and representations OF the joint serV-
ice board-convened for the purpose
Al, n cft nj
personnel situation in the Army
Navy and Marine Corps-there Is an
Impression in the War Department
that the Army separation gratulty
will be increased and that. by the
same token, the provisions OF slmliar
purport applying to naval officers VIII
b reduced.
Mai. Gen. Merritte w. Ireland
surgeon general of the Army, recon-,
nended this week to the Secretary OF
War that legislation be submitted to
Congress recognizing for purposes OF
retirement certain contract service
rendered by medical officers OF the
Army. This has been under con-
sideration by the War Department Iol
some time and has met with genera
approval One hundred and nVe medi
cal officers now on the active llSt hao
such service prior to being commis-
stoned. Existing law recognizes IoI
rurnoses of promotion and retirement
contract service rendered by members
of the Dental Corps and Veterinary
Corps. and in the act of June 10, l9Zz
(pav act). the military status or the
contract surgeon was recognized ior
purposes of computing longevity pay.
Should this bill be enacted into Jaw
1T will place all officers of the Medi-
cal Department on parity as re-
yards retirement credits and rectlty
an existing discrimination. MOST OF
the medical officers involved IN lnis
proposed legislation served as acting
assistant surgeons or contract sur
geons IN the field during the Spanish
American War and the Philippine IN
surrection If such contract service
is recognized in computing service 1or
retirement, some Of those ofncers
would become eligible for consIdera-
ton in that connection as early as
next year.
It is understood that serious con-
sideration is being given by the War
Department to the proposal whereby
a soldier not disabled can be trans
ferred to an Army Reserve after 80
years service or be retired after 70
years service with a proporuonate
part of his retired pay and allowances
ssinilar to that applicable to officers:
4. e.. 21s per cent for each year of
service. Many service men can re-
member that efforts were made over
a score of years ago, and numerous
times since, to secure a 25-year re.
tirement provision for the enlisted
personnel of the Regular Army, but
up to the present time all such efforts
have ended in failure. Certain mem
hers of Congress have indicated their
interest in this 25-year retirement
proposal. and the chances of this pro-
posal receiving support in both
houses of Congress at the approach
ing session appear to be more favor
able this year than at any time