The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-09

Edson select corps esti- mated at 2,200 to 2,500 officers, most of whom are believed to be still alive.
 In the World War I period they would all have come from the old German Junkers officer class. A few of the top men, the generals in the staff corps, are still hangovers from this old aristocracy. But for the most part, the young men who might be considered dangerous enough to start World War III are soldiers wh have come up from the ranks.
 Before any soldier could become an officer in the German army of World War II he had first to pass a weeks psychological examination which was intended to show his f1t- ness as officer material. If he pass ed, he then spent his first year as a private, his second as a corporal then eight months in an officers candidate general service school and six months in the school of the army for which he was best fitted After this training of over three years he was second lieutenant. TOUGH EXAM TO HURDLE
 When he rose to the rank of cap- tain he could become eligible for the General Staff. First, however, he had to pass a competitive ex- animation which was a terror. Many candidates failed and went back to the line.
 If he passed, the young captain went to General Staff school in the Institute of Technology at Berlin Charlottenburg. Here his courses were highly specialized His classes were small. There was one instruc- tor detailed to every 10 men and this instructor stayed with his charges all through stiff two-year course, coaching them, cramming them, making out their efficiency reports. Those who passed became members of the select General Staff Corps for life, entitled to wear a red stripe down their pants legs and be the envy of all the army.
 First assignment of a General Staff officer, however, was with troops. Two out of every six years of the staff oficer's life had to be spent in command of troops, and his efficiency rating and advancement, though on promotion lists separate from those of the line officers, were rated on ability to command in the field. The theory was that if staff officer could not command, he could not plan for others to command.
 Weak spot in the German General Staff Set-up, according to U. S. mili- tary authorities, was that it was never able to keep ahead of Hitler. The German General Staff took Hitler to its bosom when he became political leader of the Reich, but thereafter it was never able to keep him in control. He moved into Aus tria before the General Staff was ready. He moved against France be- fore the General Staff was ready for the next logical step, an invasion of England.
 RED SHIPPERS
 HARD TO LOCATE,
 To find where the once-proud wearers of the red-striped pants are now will take some searching. Some are in Russian, British and French hands. Those taken prisoner by the U. s. are kept segregated in Ger many, can easily be tried and treat ed as they deserve.
 What their potential is for making another war is unknown. Some U. s. stan officers consider this potential nil. The war ministry has been bombed to dust. Many of its records were destroyed. Some moved to Si- lesia have been captured. And Ger man industry has been wrecked.
 The one possibility for a German comeback in. war will be for some other government to create 1t. That Is what happened the last time. U. s. loans helped Germany finance a new start offer World War I and Great Britain and France sold Ger many of the raw materials they needed. All three-and Russia = helped German industry to prepare for 8 ew war. As long as one rem- nant of the German General Staff Corps personnel or spirit is kept alive and free to plan such a come- back, it can happen again.