OCR Text |
Show THE MATTER. WITH THE ARMY. I In his' rocent address at the Leavenworth Leav-enworth military school. Major-General Boll hinted darkly at something radically radi-cally wrong with the. arm)' of the United Unit-ed States. His remark has stirred up a good deal of speculation. Secretary Taft declares that Bell referred to certain cer-tain routine matters concerning which Gen. Bell is not in accord with the War Dopartmont. Bnt Gen. Bell says ho referred re-ferred only to the matter of pay, and not, to any hidden trouble or canker. Both explanations seem inudequato to explain the sensational allusion, and tho instant and keen attention it excited ex-cited in army circles. It is. therefore, a satisfaction to hear that Gen. Bell is about to make a more complete aud "inside" explanation of what ho meant. In the meantime, the following follow-ing editorial suggestion by the New York Evening Post is well worthy of consideration: Major-Gen. Boll's reference to the prevailing pre-vailing discontent in tho army, he now explains, referred only to ita pay, and not to any hidden, secret sorrow. As a matter of fnct, tho man who has made tho service Inoro discontented with Its lot than anybody else Is Mr. Roosevelt, Roose-velt, but tho President has of late seemed to realize tho mistakes of the past. His selection of young captains and majors! for high rank In the army, by reason of friendship or because of a wholly exaggerated Idea of the value of their military achievements, was what did tho mischief. But of late ho has promoted several excellent colonels to I brigadier-generals well-earned. Notable selections were tho last two, Gens. C. M. Hodges and .7. M. TC. Davis, both excellent excel-lent men, having tho respect of their comrades. Tt was said of Gen. Hodges that he was the only colonel who had not an application for promotion on file, and was not also personally acquainted with Mr. Roosovelt. If the President continues con-tinues I his policy and makes It plain that hereafter promotions shall go to meritorious officers, without regard lo their Influence or their fathers-in-law. tho greatest cnuso of unrest in the amy will havo disappeared. Yesterday he promoted pro-moted a major to the position of quartermaster-general, but this will not disturb dis-turb the army If it can bo assured that Major Aloshlro was the best officer available In that department, which, jls tho service knows, needs modernization badly. |