The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-10-19
ARMY HEADQUARTERS
FOR ATLANTA
The Considerations Which Are Back
Of the Movement for a South
ern Military Department
with Headquarters at
Atlanta.
By Jos: OIL.


ment of the east may have most impor-
tant bearing upon project in which
Atlanta and all the south are deeply in
terested That is the reestabishment OF
the military department of the gulf with
| headquarters at Atlanta.
The time is ripe for a concerted move
ment toward the dividing up of the UNI
wedy department of the east by the
creation of n new department embracing
the south Atlantic and gulf states By
| the restoration of the status which was
necessarily disturbed by the precipita.
ton of the war with Spain. Such
movement strongly supported by the sem
ators and representatives from Georgia
and having the active and hearty aid OF
other southern members of congress, will
be set on foot Immediately after the as
semblng of congress, and unless l am
mistaken, it will meet the approval of
the general commanding the department
of the east
Corbin's Important Part.
No man who wears the uniform Of
Uncle Sam is as familiar with the details
/ of the administration Of the army, and
the army's needs, as Major General Cor
/ bin. AS adjutant general of the army
during a period of years when the ext
| gencies of war laid bare all the
! strength and all the weaknesses of the
army organization, he is the most thor
oui.lly informed of any living man Of
all the details of our army system
man Of rare executive ability, he realizes
better than anybody the value of a per
| feet organization ana he will be found
using his influence to any movement
designed to bring about such perfection.
| General Corbiu viii figure in history as
one of the greatest adjutant generals the
! United States army has ever known. HIS
own personality and his own strength
made the office he held Of predominatns
influence in army affairs in the years i'm
mediately preceding the Spanish war,
during that wars progress and through
out the period following that war Wneh
the military system has been undergo
ing the readiustmen which eliminated
i'll the creation of the general staff corps.
Supreme faith in his Judgment was man
/ ifested by secretaries of war and presi-
dents alike. There were critics, Of
course, for jealousies are to be found
even in army circles but there was just
one verdict from those in the best posi-
ton to know the man and his work, ana
that testified to his power, his strength,
his great ability.
His assignment to the command of the
most important of the military depart
ments is eloquent evidence Of the esteem
! In which he is held by President Roose-
Welt and Secretary Of Wal Root. The
appropriateness Of this recognition of his
services is universally recognized. both
in the army and out of it. His country
men appreciate the value of his services
! The desira bility Of the reestablishment
of the department of the gulf was often
presented to General Corbin as adjutant
general when matters pertaining to this
section of the country We're before him,
! and believe it to be within the facts
/ to say that he looks upon the proposed
change with distinct favor. AS COM
mander of the department Of the cas-
this will come before him for considera-
ton, and when the proper time comes,
action Will be taken in accordance with
/ his recommendations.
! Many Efforts Made.
| During the past two wears this matter
has been frequently brought to the at
! tention of the military authorities by
6 eorsians and other southerners, but the
! project Of the creation OF the general
staff corps has SO occupied the attention
of Secretary Root and the high army Of
iicers that other proposed changes nave
had to take a back seat Now that the
general staff has become a reality, how
ever and since one of its most important
duties viii be to perfect the machinery
for the administration Of army affairs,
the time has come for an active revival
OF the campaign Tor the department of
the gulf.
Expressions showing the interest felt in
this moy ement by the members Of the
Georgia delegation insure a vigorous cam
paign upon their return to Washington.
/ va a in OH md
all Of them have lost no opportunity to
help along the good work in the past.
Senators Bacon ana Clay ana Congress
man Livingston have. l know. brought
! the matter to the attention OF the secre-
tary of war and the adjutant general
upon practically every visit to the war
department. no matter what the pri-
| mary purpose of the visit may have
I been.
Following one Of Senator Bacon's talks
| with Adjutant General Corbin last spring
| an Associated Press dispatch was sent
I out from here stating that the reestab-
| lishment OF the department OF the gulf
had been determined upon This proved
| to ne a mistake for ne action had been
| taken; but the impression made upon the
| representative of the press association
! by General Corbin's expressions was sucn
as to bear out the assertion that he be-
/ neves the change should be made. And
lit is practically certain that with q IA
tVorable recommendation from General
| Cor61n Atlanta will again become head.
/ quarters Of one Of the great military de-
| partmentS
The Present Department.
| Every consideration of eXpediency and
| good business argues for the division Of
the present department of the east. and
for such I, division as will make new
department Of which Atlanta will be the
| geographical and commercial center. The
| present departments exclusive of those
in the division OF the Philippines, are
| these
| Department of Californ!a-Califo MA and
1 Nevada, with the Hawaiian islands.
/ Headquarters al San Francisco.
Department of the Wyoming,
Colorado, Utah, Arizona ana New Mexico
| Headquarters at Denver
Department of the Coumhia-Washng-
ton Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Head
quarters at Vancouver Barracks. Wash
| ington.
Department of Observation-Disclosures,
! North Dakota South Dakota. Montana
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