Evening star., 1942-07-26
u. ). Training Officers
For Postwar Duty as
Military Governors
Specialists Expected
To Help Restore Order
In Afflicted Nations
Special Dispatch to The Star.

restoration of civil life in the war
torn countries of the world, the
United States has established here
an unusual school of military gov
eminent.
The first class of so, ranging in
rank from captains to colonels and
all carefully hand-picked on the
basis of administrative ability and
wide executive experience, will be
graduated late in August after a
strenuous four-month course of in
struction. A second class, some
what larger in number, is in process
Of selection.
The military governors are to be
attached to the staffs of command
ing generals in the several theaters
Of operations, both in former enemy
countries and IN friendly countries
evacuated by the Axis conquerors.
They will take over the conduct of
virtually all civil affairs and, with
the aid of specialists, will prepare
to advise the military commander,
serve as liaison officers between him
and civil authorities and supervise
civil affairs in subordinate terri
torial commands.
Numerous Problems Ahead,
The University of Virginia was
chosen as the seat of the new school
partly because Of its proximity to
Washington and the possibility of
calling in as nonresident lecturers
both military and civilian experts
now detailed to war duties in the
Capital. It is a coincidence that
the institution was conceived and
largely built by Thomas jefferson,
author Of the Declaration of indie
pendence. and has numbered among
Its students Woodrow Wilson, who
sought, unsuccessfully, after the
flrst World War, to implant in Eu-
rope the declarations concept of
democracy.
1t Is generally acknowledged that
the problems of the peace will be
at least as great and as numerous
as those which must be met on the
way to victory. Good order and
economic recovery may be long in
coming If the forces of occupation
exhibit lack of flrmness or purpose.
The defeat Of the Axis powers might
be the signal for loosing the con-
quered peoples or long and bloody
wars of vengeance or causing those
OF the enemy powers to start costly
and futile revolts.
Wickersham Heads School,
The primary purpose of the school
Yor military government is to pre-
vent chaos among the civilian pop
ulations as country after country is
occupied by the United Nations. But.
1t is believed, the military governors
must help to lay the foundations for
. new world order which shall hold
some promise Of enduring peace. OF
this last, those in charge of the
school have little to say at present,
while admitting the inadvisability of
. second American retreat from
Europe" at too early date.
Heading the school as comman-
dant Is Brig. Gen. Cornelius w.
Wickershaln, member Of q New York
law f1rm and son of former IL
torney General Of the United States.
His talent for organization, partic-
ulArly In military matters, elevated
Gen. Wickersham from private to
his present rank. He enlisted in a
cavalry unit of the New York Ma
ttonal Guard in 1916 for service on
the Mexican border.
AS an infantry captain and as
sistant chief of staff, he saw ac-
ton in Flanders, on the Somme and
at San Mihiel. He was awarded
the Distinguished Service Medal for
conduct at the battle of San Mihiel
and for his organization of the I'd
Army Corps headquarters The
French decorated him with the
Legion Of Honor.
Professionals on Staff.
Serving on Gen. Wickersham' s i'm
mediate staff, as the faculty" of the
school are professional soldiers like
COL Cuthbert P. Stearns, who served
on the War Department General
STAFF from 1881 to 1885. and more
recently has acted as chief of staff
for the 9Th Infantry Division, and
Col. Lewis K. Underhill. graduate
of West Point, the command and
general staff.
1t. Col. Hardy c. billiard, director
Of instruction for the school, was
professor Of law and assistant dean
of the University of Virginia law
SCHOOL
Col. Paul S. Andrews, who was
dean Of the college of law at Syra-
cuse University, had served as cap
tain with the 15lst Field Artillery
during the World War.
1t. Col. Joseph P. Harris was
second lieutenant In the Air Service
from 1918 to 1919, but comes to the
School Of Military Government from
the University Of California, where
he was professor of public admin
1stration.
Nazis Don't Like Idea.
Jessie I. Miller, associate director
Of the school. is a lawyer and was
executive director Of the National
Labor Board from 1888 to 1884. Dur
ing the last war he was major and
aide de camp to Mai. Gen. E. H.
Crowder. provost marshal general.
Attendance at the school is ad-
mitted to be a long, tough grind.
In that it may resemble similar
schools known to be maintained by
the Axis powers-but there the re-
semblance ends. Instead Of training
military governors to exploit con-
ouered lands and peoples, the United
States is aiming chiefly at the pres
ervation Of order.
Word of the establishment OF the
school has gone into Germany-and
they don't like it," one officer said
with a smile. But soon or late, its
graduates will be urgently required.
We do not know where they will be
sent, ultimately. You may make
your own guess as to that. No one
group Is being pointed for any par
ticular country. All are to receive
the same basic training. With few
exceptions, all have had long expert
ence In public administration; other
wise, four months would not suffice
- +ao.l tho ,I,dimenfS of military