A REFLECTION

The announcement of the second series of training camps for officers recalls to mind that murmuring concerning injustice in selecting candidates for the first series are still echoing. Those many confident and by no means mute aspirants whose confidence in their own ability surpassed the examining officers' confidence in that same intangible quality, are still unshakably convinced that they were harshly treated by an unsympathetic government.

Of the forty thousand men now in training, ten thousand are to be chosen on their ability as officers for our first army. It is a reasonable supposition that should by merit the hundred and thirty or so men from the University be so selected, condemnation of the favoritism shown will rise to damnation. And it is a further reasonable supposition that should those officers, having undertaken with their men the defense of a portion of the battle line, by some singular feat of courage or skill force the retirement of the foe which opposes them, the Germans will then be accused of having conspired with the Government, the War Department and fate to advance the honor of these hundred and thirty men, over more deserving men who have failed of everything.