Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13

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The report of Brig. Gen. George s.
Simonds, assistant chief Of staff and
president of the United States Infantry
Association, indicates that the recent
canvass OF that association Is over
whelmingly in favor of the passage OF
non-controversial legislation and is
conspicuous for its silence on the sub
ject CT revision of the promotion list.
On the subject of revision. which has
reached the delicate point of discus
sion In the service, Gen. Simonds. said
with regard to the revision of the pro-
motion list many of the communica-
tons express views for or against it.
Among those favoring 1t different meth
DDS are proposed. Many report only
on the four principles, saying nothing
abuot promotion-list revision.
THE Infantry Council is confirmed
in its view that there is so great a
diversity of opinion in the service or
it to present anything like a composite
view of an overwhelming majority Of
those affected"
There are approximately 3,700 COM
missioned officers in the Infantry
branch of the service, and more than
so per cent of the Infantry officers
have sent in their views to the associa-
| ton. "A summary of the promotion
analysis indicates the following: (a)
About 90 per cent in favor of promo
ton based on length of service; (b)
about "a per cent in favor of the adj
vancement of officers at the prescribed
periods without rigid regard to the
numbers that may result i'll the vari-
GUS grades; (c) first, about SO per cent
in favor of the retirement of lieutenant
! colonies of &c years service in the
grade IF colonel, second, about so per
cent in favor of voluntary retirement
under the conditions there stated.
third, about 90 per cent in favor of
| the removal Of the restrictions or the
activities of retired officers, n I'D
about IS per cent opposed to reduction
OF the hump" by enforced separations.
There has been some opposition to
the advancement of officers at the pre-
scribed periods without rigid regard to
the numbers that may result in the
various grades, on the grounds that the
application of this principle will result
in top-heavy field grades and that con-
| siderable limitation on those grades is
necessary. The view of Maj. Gen.
| Charles P. Summerall, chief of staff,
| on the promotion situation as set forth
to Congress on April 81, 1928, in favor
of promotion according to length of
service, with the proposed restriction
upon numbers in the grades OF lieu
tenant colonel and colonel, does not
! appear to have been changed. He evil
IDENTIFY shares, or at least he does not
| depart from, the views expressed re-
peatedly by both Secretary of War
Davis and his predecessor, Mr.. Weeks,
in opposition to the revision Of the
promotion list. although that Is i'm
piled rather than explicitly stated by
Gen. Summerall. The latest remarks
| of the chief of staff On this question
are as follows: .
IT believe the view Of the officers of
the Army in general Is that we should
, have legislation embracing ~non-cotro-
| versial features. The revision of the
promotion list Is controversial. Much
| less than half of the World War officers
want a revision, and the others do not
want a revision. II we give promotion
to officers according to length of serv-
ice 1t will minimize the effect OF dis
parity due to position on the promotion
list because they will all go up from
one grade together and attain their
additional rank and some increase OF
pay"
The War Department has accepted
the invitation Of the Irish Free State
to send the Army riding team to the
government horse show that will be
held at Dublin, Ireland. next August,
and the following officers have been
selected to compose the American team