Evening star., 1945-09-11
Army Begins Reducing
Number Of Generals;
Many 10 Be Retired

The process OF reducing the
number of generals in the Army
in line with the rehabilitation
policy is now under way, the Wal
Department announced today.
Since We day, the department
said, 10 general officers have retired
from active duty or have received
orders to do so, and 100 others are
being reduced in rank. Within the
next few months, it was said, all
but few of the 1876 generals who
were recalled from retirement will
be back on the retired list.
In 1910, the Army had 100 officers
with general rank. This represented
two-thirdS of per cent of all the
officers in the Army. On VI day
there were 1900 general officers, or
one-fifth of per cent of the Army S
100000 officers.
100000 Officers to Go.
The Army has announced that it
plans to release 100000 officers by
July /, 1916.
Because of the rapid expansion
of the Army during the past five
years, hundreds of officers have sky
rocketed to ranks which it would
have taken lifetime to attain under
peacetime standards,
1t is recalled that Gen. Eisenhower
long after he had attained tenn
porary four star rank and had as
sumed command of American forces
in Europe, still was only a per-
manent lieutenant colonel. Other
temporary brigadier and major gen.
erals, who distinguished themselves
by leading divisions against the
enemy, have permanent ranks as
low as those of captain or major.
Ranks to Drop One Grade.
The Army pointed out today thai
such officers would not be reduced
to their old ranks. Generally, it wa.
pointed out, ranks will be reduced
one grade, SO that a major genera
will have to step down to the ranl
of brigadier and a brigadier to tha'
of colonel.
TQe reductions are being made
1t was said. by a series of genera
officer boards in the various the
aters, which make recommendation
to a master board in Washington
The theater commander is chair
man of his board, and after he sub
mits recommendations to the mas
ter board they are weighed will
the officers individual record. TIL,
master board then makes its rec
ommenda tons to the Chief of Stat
as to what officers are to step down
when. in what order and how far.
In the process of demobilization,
the War Department said, ''it is un
ayoidable that men with distin
guished records on staff and fell
assignments should revert to lowe
ranks"
Care to Be Taken.
The reductions will be carried ou
as painlessly as possible, the Wa
Department promised, with tn
llluluilullI VI ClllUdl dSSlllCllt dll
humiliation to the officers con
cerned. Wherever possible, it wa
said, an officer will be relieved o
his present duties and given a fur
Tough home. The reduction order
will reach him while he is en- rout
to his new assignment.
The policy of reducing the mum
ber of generals will not mean tina
able men can no longer hope fo
promotions to general rank, tn
War Department said. Recommen
daIions for promotions still are bein
made for superior performance c
duty and will continue to be mad
as an incentive to officers. But, sal
the Army, they will be slower an
fewer
The few generals who were calle
out of retirement for wartime as
signments and have not receive
their orders to retire again are spe
cialists, retained to train replace
mentS. AS soon as the replacement
are ready to take over, it was sale
the older men will go back on tn
retired list.