Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26
ARMY MUSICIANS:
SCHOOL IS CLOSED
Order fer Discontinuance
Comes as Big Surprise
to Many Here.

Announcement by the War Depart
ment yesterday of the immediate dis
continuance" Of the Army Music School
at Washington Barracks had the effect
Of bombshell in local military and
music circles.
Friends of the school In civilian life
and In the service expressed deep regret
over the unheralded action and hope
vas expressed that some means might
be found for saving the school.
While officers and enlisted men con-
nected with the school maintained ST.
lence. 1t Is known that considerable dis
satisfaction has been created in the
services. especially among the 90-odd
students at the school.
Enlisted for Study.
1t is understood that more than ha.f
Of these students enlisted in Infantry.
unassigned" with the understanding
that they would be given a course Of
musical instruction, with the purpose
Of becoming bandsnen or band Leaders.
To deprive these men Of this instruc-
ton constitutes breach Of good faith,
it is pointed out
Some OF these students entered the
have enrolled during the past five
months. A number came from high
schools. They are unfit for Regular IN
fan.ry duty and they are not likely &c
prove of much value as musicians IN
LEES Trey complete the COURSE of !nstruc-
ton for which they enlisted.
Sharp issue Is taken By friends CT
The school to the statement of Secretarv
Davis that the school has fulfilled il
primary purpose" and further accom-
piishments would not justify cost"
Enlargement Asked.
There not only is an urgent demand
for the school. 1t is declared, but il
should be enlarged. rather than discon-
tinued. There Is constant demand for
trained musicians In the Army. 1t is
pointed out. and the school has been
acti7e In meeting this demand. There
are row about IS graduates of the
school eligible for assignment to Army
bands If the school is discontinued.
the eligible list viii soon cease to exist
and further demands for properly
trained musicians cannot be met.
Reported plans for organization OF
several Air Corps bands viii TN
doubtedly create an additional demand
for musicians. Where the new ap-
pointeeS are to be trained remains
mystery While the order of yester-
day said that the present student per-
sonnet would be distributed among the
Air Corps and other bands, It Is not
clear how the novices can be Of much
service.
It is recalled that a movement more
than q year ago to do away with tn
school created such storm OF proteS:
that The plan was abandoned.
Reassignment Orders.
The reassignment Of faculty and per-
sonnet Of the school Jus. ordered VIII
become effective March l. It Is under
stood that Capt Curtis D. Away. who
has been In command of the school for
about q year. viii not be affected by
the changes Neither is the Army Band
affected.
The school was organized In 1922
with a view to establishing standard
course of training for Army musicians
In connection with extensive plans for
the postwar reorganization Of Army
bands. of which there are now more
than 90. Through its special course
for band leaders. the school provided
coynretert warrant offcer as lead
for each Of the bands. and built Up
reserve Of leaders.