Show CONGRESS MAY ACT IN YOUNG OLD ARMY FIGHT i. i v Question of Promotion t ti to i General Rank Is Tar Target of Di Dissension sension By Dy International News Service WASHINGTON Aug 4 The Tho The big big- gent army fight In the history of oC tip service Impends today It Is between the younger element and the tho old older r. r Before It Is finally settled there thoro Is a distinct likelihood that congress may maybe maybe maybe be injected into tho the situation The fight comes over the question of or promotion to general rank On President Wilsons Wilson's desk today is a along along long list of colonels re recommended to tobe tobe be made brigadier generals The list was compiled by Major General Tasker Tasker Tasker Tas- Tas ker II H. Bliss DUss acting chief of the genI genera general gen gen- geni i I era eral staff The average age of the tho themen men who are thus suggested for promotion pro pro- II motion and Incidentally for leading Ithe the heavy on the battle line linein I in In France is above 69 59 years of age This In the face of a a. recommendation I by Major General Pershing in su supreme su- su preme prem command of the American I in France that the tho age limit for tor brigadier generals be fixed at about 45 General Bliss Blies represents the old school in the army Ho He is a strong believer in the system of promotion by seniority It is in accordance with this belief that he has recommended the ranking colonels for promotion In Inthe Inthe Inthe I the last list of promotions a number of colonels were overlooked by General General General Gen Gen- eral Scott because he feared reared that they might be too old for the hard service that would be found in France Prance It Is IB admitted that some of these old men have been marked now for for- promotion by General BlissIt Bliss I It Is understood here that General Pershing's s recommendations as made I to the war department declared that modern warfare was no work for an anold anold anold I old man He lie pointed out that while I these men undoubtedly were fully j equipped from a scientific viewpoint for or directing fighting they did not have tho the vitality and vim to stay with their troops in the tho violent work that be faced in fighting the Ger- Ger In making this tion General n Pershing had h the advice I eh t ee Fr of Field Marshal f e of t the French army and of General Halg Haig of the I British army They pointed out that I I I under modern modem conditions of warfare the brigadier generals were compelled to get personally into the game and to stay with their men in everything I that was met Old men cannot stand the pace pac Pershing was told and this the Is the message that h he sent back t to this country Up to the present there has not been the slightest disposition on the part of congress to interfere with army promotions It has bas been accepted as asa a a. fact that the army had to do the fighting and that it should know what i it wanted But certain charges of fa favoritism favoritism fa- fa have been made in connection connection connee- connee tion with the system of officers' officers training training train train- ing camps that have caused certain senators and representatives re to make inquiries Many of them have asked the war department without receiving any answer why it was that previous military experience seemed to be a barto bar barto barto to a man getting a commission It has been ruled by th the war department department de do- that previous military training training train train- ing would count for only sixth one-sixth in deciding whether a a. man was to be commissioned in the reserve and then detailed to active duty This has had the effect of keeping qualified military men from trying to get back into the service and several members of congress congress congress con con- gress have been collecting data on this subject which is to be made the subject subject subject sub sub- of inquiries later onIt on It is an n open secret here that the themen themen men who will do most of the fighting are none too pleased with a good part of the work of the old time general general general gen gen- eral staff Red tape has been added to rather than eliminated in many cases and preference has been entirely entire entire- ly to men whose standing ha has been highest with the men now dominating the war department Major l Gen General Hugh L L. Scott will return to this city very soon oon He is expected to resume his duties as chief of staff for a time but his friends are trying to have him promoted to the rank of lieutenant general ge and placed at the head of some important military commission The general himself however is known to want active service in France and is expected to try to get orders to proceed there He lIe Heis Heis lIeis is due to retire for age very shortly |