ENORMOUS WASTAGE OF OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 132, 5 June 1915, Page 5

ENORMOUS WASTAGE OF OFFICERS

GERMANY'S PLIGHT THE DOMINANCE OF CASTE. (TIMES km> BYDNBT BUN BERTICEB.) (Received June\s, 8.30 a.m.) ' LONDON./4th June. " Eye-Witness," with the British headquarters, says>: The German Government has taken special steps to remedy the enormous wastage in officers,' and tyot interfere with the jealously-guarded rule to retain the exclusive caste. The principle of promotion from the ranks; nominally operates. Non-coms, for brilliant services, can be raised to the rank of acting-officer. In practice, however, such promotions are extremely rare. .The) regulation ip rfterely intended to give the impression that tjiis democratic principle j is recognised. A new practice of sap-1 s ap-1 pointing reserve officers who need not re- j ,ir,ajn in the Army after the war has been adopted. Inferior status does not affect, the exclusiyeness of the officer, caste. Two additional ranks have been ' created. They are not equal to the com-; missioned rpnk, but involve the permanence i pf officers' duties. It is .evident tjiat not even frightful wastage has seriously impaired the dominance of the officer caste; the strain of the cam- ] paign, the losses suffered. without ade- \ qiiate result, and the failure to •achieve victories have not shaken popular faith in the military hierarchy controlling the destiny of Germany. Curiously, the German official description of the Ypres battles does not mention the use of gas. It is possible that ■ public opinion is not sufficiently educated to approve its use; it is more probable the Government, with an eye to the, future, does not desire to publicly confess that it has been first to adopt ■ such measures. ' * _____ i