The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
DUTIES or THE GENERAL STAFF
The Army to Be Controlled AMI Direct Ell
by General Board.

by q General Board.
WASHINGTON June CA complete and
radical departure from all existing methods
OF military administration in the army of
the United States is contemplated in the
plan Of organization of the General staff
Just prepared by the General Staff board,
Of which Gen. s. B. NJ. Young is the head.
The plan is now before Secretary Root for
his approval and 50 far has been kept a
secret by the members of the General staff
board
The new scheme provides for an organi-
zation of the army staff, with Con. Young
az Chief of staff, and the affairs of the army
are to be controlled and directed by Gen.
eral Board, to be composed Of Gen. Young
Adjutant General Corbin. Gen. Bliss, Gen,
Gillespie. Chiefof Engineers; Gen. Randolph,
Chief of Artillery; Col, Crowder. Assistant
Judge Advocate General. Lieut.. Col. Simp-
son, Assistant Adjutant- General, and Col.
Mackenzie, Engineer Corps. The General
Board will have the power and authority
now exercised by the Lieutenant General
Commanding, and will in addition have
entire supervision Of the organization,
support, discipline and equipment of the
army.
Under its control large body Of men
will be formed into three divisions The
of Col. Enoch Crowder. 1t will have charge
of the organization, armament and disci-
plne of the men of the army and will in
time of war direct the mobilization Of troops.
Il viii also have charge Of preparing plans
foF conducting operations In time OF war
and will have included in it's work the princi-
pal features Of the Office OF the Command
inG General OF the Army. the Adjutant-
general and the Inspector-General.
The second division is to be in charge
Of military information work which is now
performed by bureau Of the Adjutant-
Generals department. This ia to be made
an important branch Of the new organiza-
ton and will be under the direction OF
Major Beach. II will include the work
to be done by military ATTACHES abroad
ment. The third division is to be under
the command Of Col. Alexander Mackenzie
of the engineer corps. This division will
have supervision Of the scientific and techni-
cal branches OF the army
It will direct the work now performed by
the engineer corps, the ordnance depart
ment. the coast artillery and particularly
tho work of Notifications. This will In
clnde a system OF torpedo and submarine
defence, and this division will have under
Its supervision much OF the work now done
by the Board Of Ordnance and FortiR-
cation.
It is provided in the scheme OF organiza-
ton that in the absence Of the Chief OF
staff that Office shall be filled by the officer
next IN rank to the Chief OF Staff Al
Major-Gen. Corbin Ia now and will continue
to be the senior Maior-General Of the
army, even after the promotion Of Gen
Young to be Lieutenant General. he will
become the principal assistant to the CHIEF
OF STAFF. The question OF promotions h
divided between two OF the divisions OIL
the General staff The first division
which really has direction Of the cavalry
infantry and militia organizations, vii
recommend the selection Of officers fol
promotion In thoee branches of the service
while the third division will he consultec
with regard to PROMOTIONS in the technica
depart ments Of the army.