The Washington times., 1903-12-13
Copyright, 1908. by Walden Fawoett.)

NEW feud Is brewing IN the war
N Department and unless some-
\ thing turns aside the impending
storm cloud It looks as though
Secretary Roots carefully laid plan
for ending for all time the fierce con-
ficts of authority which have torn this
branch Of tho public service internally
for many years past, would come tum-
bling about his ears like a house of
cards. To put an end to the traditional
ill-fceling. to say nothing OF open rup-
lures. between the Secretary OF War
and the highest officer in the American
army has been one of the chief ambi-
lions of Eiihu Roots administration of
the War Department. Indeed his warm
championship OF the new general staff
plan for administering army affairs was
based largely on the belief that it would
jure the dove Of peace to this official
community.
Secretary Roots Efforts.
Secretary Root has even remained at
the War Department longer than he
otherwise might in order that the retire
menf Of General Miles might put an end
TO the Nnles-Corbin trouble and that
the new conciliatory scheme might start
OF auspiciously IN its work Of promoting
universal good feeling. Now it looks
as though the hopes OF Root and the
other lovers Of Feaee were to be sud
denly dashed to the ground Secretary
Root VIII no sooner be out of Office
and his successor take the helm than
there is liable to be precipitated a con-
hict that will rival any of its predeces-
sors in bitterness.
Secretary OF War Taft and General
charee viii be the beIligerents in this
new wrangle on which the curtain may
soon be run up. Taft will succeed Root
as Secretary about the first of the year.
and next month is also the time set
for the retirement of General Young
and the advancement Of General Chaffee
TO the rank of lieutenant general. and
probably chief Of staff
Ohcia. Relations Strained.
The two men have not been able IA
gibe in their official relations. When
General Chaffee was In command of the
army in the Philippines he and Governor
Taft had many warm controversies
growing out of disputes as TO jurisdic-
ton Each wrangle was a little more
acrid than the one which preceded IL
and as each dispute was found irnpos-
sible OF adjustment at Manila il was
War and finally to the President. After
the Chief Executive had been bothered
with a number of these "spats" word
was sent from the White House that the
two highest officials in the PHILIPPINES
must come TO some sort OF an agree
ment which would put stop to the
eiashing between the civil and military
authorities. Even in the face of this
sledgehammer hint. however, the ILL
feeling continued and IT is almost in
evitable that this strained relationship
will crop out at the War Department
after the opening Of the new year.
In General Sherman's Day.
II General Chaffee is al swords,
: points with the Secretary Of War :, viii
be by no means the first time that such
condition has existed in the Temple
OF Mars at the American Capital Much
or the time since the civil war there
mas been just such a ticklish state Of
affairs. When General Sherman was in
charge Of army headquarters his con-
nets Of authority with the Secretary
OF War were so acute that the hero Of
the March TO the Sea. driven to des-
peration by the Sights put upon him.
moved the army headquarters. bag and
baggage. from Washington to St. Louis.
General Sheridan had almost as siren
uous time as did General Sherman. He
was not quite testy enough TO allow
himself TO be driven from Washington.
but ne had lively and continual clashes