The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-04

lfOEN pcllB pOhUlChl uSGp~uASl AhS
triguers OF the State Department
variety, were in reality intended TO
be nothing more than the equiva-
lent Of U. s. state, county or NUM-
cipal highway commissioners, pub
lie health officers, directors OF pub
lie utilities and so on In occupied
areas.
For reasons Of security, the Army
Is not yet ready to reveal where
some Of the Charlottesville graduates
have been assigned. But 1t can be
told that few were sent to Africa
and II there had been more such
assignments, General Eisenhower
might not have run into all the
difflculties he encountered with
French colonial officials there. The
Charlottesville school Is intended to
train men for Just such jobs.
Simple facts and an examination
of Its curriculum, records and en-
rollment seem to indicate that the
principal function of the Charlottes-
Vile School OF Military Govern
ment Is to provide a four months
short course In public administra-
ton, contemporary history and eco
Monies for hand-picked civilians. In
private life these men have been
public health officials, public works
and public utilities directors, traf-
flc and safety directors, lawyers and
economists with experience In mu-
nicipal or state government affairs.
TAKE OVER BEHIND
ADVANCE
When these men graduate they
will theoretically be ready to move
In which an expeditionary force and
as that force advances, take over
supervision Of the local government
to make sure that what's left OF
the civilian economy In the occupied
country does not bog down.
The Charlottesville trained officers
will relieve the military commander
of keeping order behind the lines,
restoring transportation and COM
munications systems, water systems,
sewage systems, looking after pub
lie health to see that disease In the
civilian population does not spread
to the troops.
The third class at Charlottesville
has just begun Its courses. Each
enrolment Is limited to $50, but 1t
has been 80 difficult to find qualified
candidates for the school that no
cadre has been full,
The Charlottesville school Is
only one part Of the Army's pro-
gram for training administrators
These will be the senior officers
their average age Is about IS, which
the Army thinks Ia too high-prob-
ably assigned to corps or Army
headquarters But under these
Charlottesville graduates will be
Junior officers trained along two
other lines.
SPECIAL M. p. COURSES
At Fort Custer, Mich, which Is
Army training center Tor military
police and NJ. P. officers. special
courses are given to Junior officers
who will be assigned TO subordinate
military government jobs In occu-
pied countries. Big JOBS Of the Mill
tary police, OF course, Is to main
tain order behind the lines. In
every case, they are to try to use
existing local government machin-
cry superimposing American direc-
ton.
In addition to that, the Office Of
the provost marshal general, work.
ing with other civilian agents OF
the federal government Is picking
out some 250O men now In civilian
occupations, both public and pri.
vate, such as superintendent OF
streets, sewage disposal, water
works, and Industrial and utilities
engineers, and Is commissioning
them as officers in the active reserve
These officers will be given two
months' special training In courses
now being established in various
colleges and universities TO familiar
ize them with the customs, geog-
raphy and local affairs Of q partic-
ular area.
After receiving this training, these
reserve officers will be returned Il
! their regular jobs IN their home ci-
ties. They will wait \until the Army
needs them for. particular assign.
ments--supervising street repair ir
Italy, checking up on public health
in Japan, reorgarizing railways ir
Germany.
The whole job is one of good gen.
eral staff planning for future de-
velopments.