Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
Army andNavyNews

not more than 3 officers from a
list of II commanders who are eligi-
BILE for selection. The maximum mum
Der of selections that may be made
are S in the Medical Corps. in
the Construction Corps and l in the
Civil Engineer Corps. The number OF
officers eligible for selection in each
Of these corps are 25 in the Medical
Corps, 3 in the Cor struction Corps
and 9 in the Civil Engineer Corps.
There will be no promotion to any
selection ranks in the Dental and
Chaplains Corps, as the running mates
of officers in those corps were not
among the line officers selected. Chap
lain Corps officers are far ahead OF
their line officer running mates in
rank. and in the Dental Corps the
senior commanders have as their run
ing mate an officer of the Naval
Academy class of 1908 who was pro
NOTED to commander last year. and
who in the normal course will not be
reached in the selections for captain
for a number of years to come.
Due to the recent death of Lieut.
Col. Charles T. Westcott. u. S. M. c.,
the following officers in the Marine
Corps became due for promotion to
the next higher grades: Maj. Frederick
A. Barker, Capt. Allen II. Turnage,
First Lieut.. Ralph r. Robinson and
Second Lieut.. Richard j. Godin. Six
graduates of distinguished military in
situations have been designated for eX-
animation for appointment as proba-
tionary second lieutenants in the
Marine Corps. They are Frank C.
Daily and Frank H. Wirsig, Univer-
sity Of Nebraska; Elmer G. Marks
North Dakota Agricultural College:
John 8. Letcher. Virginia Military In
stitute; William r. Williams, st.
Johns College, Annapolis, Md. and
Roger T. Carlson, Norwich Univer-
sity.
ARMY.
AS the date approaches for the
converting of the Army chaplains' pro-
motion board, on or about August 10,
the members of this corps are evinc-
ing great interest in the final recon-.
mendationS. which will be made to
the War Department upon the con-
clusion of their Deliberations. Though
there appears to exist feeling in
certain quarters that religious work
in the Army has not been given suffi-
cient active support, Col. John L. Ak
ton, chief of chaplains, pointed out last
week that the War Department has
taken keen interest in the develop
ment Of this important department,
and that as far back as January II,
1919, the Secretary Of War and the
chief Of staff advocated provision for
269 chaplains, of whom should
have the grade of colonel. 8 to be
lieutenant colonies, 25 majors. ia
captains and ia first lieutenants.
Since the national defense act became
law there has been under consid-
Grafton at every session Of Congress,
by War Department initiative or
with War Department approval, some
very important measures designed to
increase the efficiency Of the Chap
lains Corps.
1t is felt that chaplains should be
accorded the same pay, privileges and
allowances as are provided for all
other non-combatant officers of the
Army. AS the living expenses and
responsibilities of chaplains call for
the same pay as that Of other officers
with whom they are associated, 1t is
further felt that, grade for grade.
there should be no discrimination be.
tween this professional service and
others. With the exception of the
Chaplains Corps, every other chief Of
branch is of general officer rank. In
taking cognizance of this fact the
Secretary of War pointed out that he
considers that to limit the rank of
the chief of this branch (Chaplains
Corps while all other chiefs of
branches are major generals, is not in
accordance with the place Of religion
in the Army nor with the value and
importance of the moral and religious
influences Of the ministry in the
Army and in civil life."
The chaplains favor a promotion
system similar to that obtaining in
the Medical Corps of the Army. as
follows: Less than years, first lieu