Complex sentence: Initially, the Army Ministry was in charge of both administration and operational command of the Imperial Japanese Army; however, with the creation of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff in December 1878, it was left with only administrative functions.
Split into simpler sentences: Initially, the Army Ministry was in charge of both administration and operational command of the Imperial Japanese Army. However, with the creation of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff in December 1878, it was left with only administrative functions.