Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-09
ARMY

ARMY.
Mai. Gen. c. II. Martin, who con
.~ened the Army promotion board in
the Panama Canal Department. sees
nothing in the report of that board to
change his views, expressed some five
wears ago as a member of the Sha nks
board. Considerable importance was
attached to the laconic remarks or
Gen. Martin, due to his participation
in the Shanks board deliberations.
which extended over a period of eight
months. That boards deliberations
were - o leave the present single pro
motio.1a, and there ia less
rea son now, Gen. Martin pointed out.
after the lapse OF more than five
years. to disturb an accomplished fact
In fact. / think at this late date any
material change would work incalcu'
liable harm to the morale of the Army
The hump of which we hear so much
can be easily gotten rid of if the laws
now existing are enforced. especially
the insistenCe OF efficiency reports
which mean something and the prop
= err opera ton of class Is boards" Maj.
Gen. Merritte w. Ireland. surgeon
general of the Army. likewise express
ed the opinion that more rigid appiica.
ton should he made OF the class Is
law. which would eliminate unfit OF
icers.
=, The board convened by Gen. Martin
recommended that promotion should
be ba sed upon the seniority rule. modl'
fed By a limited selection. and pro-
posed a limited selection scheme. as
follows: TAI Lieutenants over 81 years
of age and captains over - years OK
nge, whose efficiency reports show a
.1,reponderant above average or
,ligher. shall not be subject 10 retire
snent under the age-in-srade rule; 90
sOf the officers of this category each
> .year a number in each grade, not to
exceed 10 per cent of the promotions
g.. in that grade in the past year. may be
+. selected for promotion for the next 20
wears; tcl The personnel board shall
tselect annually from the list OF
: Solonels in accordance with their
s,evaluated efficiency records suffi-
tSient number to fill all the vacancies
.Sn the grade of general officers for the
sS'eXt year. and colonies thus passed
: over for promotion in two successive
Years shall be retired.
e One of the most outstanding recon-
lamentations made by this board. and
(which caused lively comment last
.week in service circles, was that
switch recommended the adjustment
OF the grade of brigadier general. and
Shat the grade of major general be dl-
xsided into an upper and lower half for
abe purposes Of pay and allowances.
1.-The board also recommended that ma
5or generals be given temporary rank
with allowances as in corresponding
grades in the Navy. as follows: The
chief of staff and commanders of over
seas departments the rank of general,
and the deputy chief of staff and COM
manders of corps areas the rank of
lieutenant general.
Adoption of a new plan which will
estimate the general intelligence OF
applicants for original enlistment in
the Regular Army has been made
by the War Department, and as soon
as the required forms. now being
prepared by the department, are re-
teived by the corps areas, the tests
will be placed in operation. These
Intelligence tests will consist Of a
reading vocabulary test, literary test,
verbal vocabulary test, performance
test for on.English-speaking appli.
Cants), and several other tests to be
conducted by medical officers. This
test material measures no. quality OF
the applicant other than literary, and
In case of the verbal vocabulary the
ability of the foreign born to speak
End understand the English language.
The belief Is held by large number
O; Army officers that a mental age
uf 10 years Is incompatible with sat
tsfactory service, but experience has
tonclusively shown that such men,
II qualified otherwise and properly
trained, render satisfactory service.
Another examination, called the min.
lnum mental examination. Is fur
nished also for the use of medical
officers. The belief has been ex-
pressed that if this method is con-
kc:entiously applied. it will result In
the detection Of disqualifying defects
ordinarily not found at the physical
examination for enlistment.
The central Medical Department
board. consisting Of the following
named officers, has been appointed
to meet at the Army Medical School,
Army Medical Center, in this city:
Coils Henry G. Fisher. William G..