| Show army prepares to rule occupied countries co untried un tries officers taught characteristics of beaten nations to assure efficient administration specialists in in law finance and communication recruited for service training aim Is to win conquered toes friendship looking ahead to the time when land now under axis dom will be wrested from them the army is operating a school of military government under general supervision of the provost marshal general at the university 0 of virginia in charlottesville designed to train officers for future duties in military government and liaison work the school provides a highly intensified 16 weeks course for qualified commissioned officers in the army of the united states and to a small number of civilians with specialized training the members of this latter group are commissioned in the specialist reserve section officers reserve corps prior to their attendance at the school when the united states army captures territory terri toz from the th enemy it is the responsibility of the commanding general of that particular theater of operations to set up a military government over the occupied land heo he becomes military governor and Is in supreme control until such time as it Is possible to re reestablish establish a civil government it Is extremely difficult for the commanding generals regular staff to handle the countless details involved in the administration of a military government due to the press of their other duties and the specialized knowledge required in many cases thus the war depart W brig gen gell C anent t th the men through rough wicker wickersham r ham school of military government and other special schools is training officer personnel to act as top administrative officers and as junior officers in military governments under the direction of a theaters I 1 com commanding m anding general A pool of technical talent has also been established the members ol of which are called upon to fill to technical C h and advisory posts military gave government ament designe d to win conquered people the experience gained in 20 odd occupations during our history Is valuable as is that gained by other of the united nations whose experience Is available to us the policy of the united states army in regard to military government and the one on which the teachings of the school are based is as follows the military government should sla 0 id b be e just humane and mild a as s practicable ti and the welfare of the people governed should always he be the aim of every person engaged therein the school of military government obtains its students from recommendations dati 0 ns of the 10 service commands various supply and administrative divisions of the war department the commanding generals of the various armies from personal applications oi of officers between the grades of captain and colonel and from a selected few of the specially qualified civilians commissioned in the specialist reserve section officers reserve corps who are members of the reserve pool of technical and professional specialists created by the provost marshal general those with experience and training in the fields of public c works transportation gas electric and water systems finance taxation monetary systems etc public health sanitation medicine disease control education supervision of school systems public safety maintenance of order prevention of crime legal supervision of military and civil courts communications postal service telegraph telephone etc public welfare care of wants infants children the needy and aged and economics supervision of agriculture manufacture and trade are selected tor for further detailed instruction at the school teach principles principle of government character of enemy countries Coun trie instruction at the school of military government is of two types a lecture program and a program of 0 practical problems under the first students are taught the principles of military government ern ment military courts proclamations ordinances state and municipal governments international law and public administration they are also given detailed d information regarding the conditions and characteristics te of the countries and regions which w aich may be occupied under the second the class divided first into small committees actually conceives plans tor for the setting up of military governments in tain fain selected cities countries and regions this affords students practical experience in applying the principles and methods they have studied in the lecture program many factors must be taken into consideration before determining the particular type of military government to be set up in each territory location Locati od Is important whether it ties lies in the combat zone in the zone of communications or Is I 1 s an occupied country after the armistice this ibis condition greatly affects the he procedure on questions having to do with protection of food and water supplies rationing of food and clothing guarding of banks and public buildings establishment of blackouts etc the final exercise in the course given at the school consists of drawing up plans for military government of the principal enemy countries these final plans are put to practical use by the army they are studied by the proper authorities fo for any valuable suggestions they may contain as regards to actual methods of operation when enemy countries are occupied students solute solutions ns are studied by research groups at th the e school for the purpose of perfecting and refining them for future consideration and employment the commandant of the school of m military government Is briggen brig gen C W wickersham a prominent lawyer in general wicker r ham is a veteran of the last world war in which he was awarded the distinguished service medal and the legion of honor prior to his appointment as commandant of the school he served as assistant chief of staff G 2 first army in addition to the school ol of mill tary government courses in military government are offered at the provost marshal gener generals ars training center fort ouster custer mich to selected junior officers and enlisted men ot of the corps of military police these courses are designed to train men lor for future assignment to occupational a I 1 police units in areas taken over by our armed forces washington determines determine policy army administers such policy since the ardys mission insofar as military government Is concerned Is primarily an administrative one many underlying policies of such ft a government cannot be determined by the war department the political policy will be set by the state department the fiscal policy by the treasury department the federal reserve board etc because of this limitation the army selects a certain number of technicians for military government work from the nominations of certain government agencies such as state treasury and commerce departments board of economic warfare etc these technically qualified civilians are formed into a pool they are commissioned in the specialist reserve section officers reserve cor corps b but U t kept on an inactive status antu needed ded they may be called to active duty tor for a training period not to exceed four months during which time they will receive irmy army indoctrination courses find and special instruction at selected colleges and universities on the areas to which they may subsequently be assigned as required in addition bertz certain civilian agencies have been asked to make special studies in the field ol of international law and economics the results to be incorporated with existing information on military government ern ment besides training officers for military government the provost marshal general also trains liaison officers with american troops stationed in many united nations countries and territories all over the world friendly contact between our soldiers and civil governments and civilian populations Is ol of prime importance to further this relationship and to promote a better understanding between these groups Is the important duty ot of our ardys liaison officers |
