Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-12
THE GENERAL STAFF
DRAFT OF REGULATIONS HAS
NEARLY BEEN COMPLETED.
Some Radical Changes Authorized by
the New Law-Powers OF
Chief of STAFF.

A committee of twelve officers Of the
general staff, of which Gen. Iasker IL.
Bliss is chairman, has nearly completed
draft of regulations for the government Of
the general staff. Although the law Great
ing the general staff is very prief, this
committee has found that 1t Is very sweep
ing in it's provisions and that the reguia-
tions to carry it into effect necessitate
radical changes in the army.
For instance, the chief of staff will be
a powerful official, uniting in one person
all the theoretical authority exercised by
the commanding general under the present
law as well as the power heretofore un-
officially vested in the adjutant general.
So far as drafted the regulations under the
new law leave little>or nothing OF the pewer
of the adjutant generals department and
less of the inspector generals department.
The adjutant general will keep the military
records now, and the orders 10 the army
will continue to be promulgated and pup
lished by him. But the chief OF stan VIII
issue the orders. He will be the inter-
mediary between the President and the
Secretary of War and the army, including
all the regular staff bureaus. Inese stan
bureaus will receive instructions and orders
directly from the chief of stan In the name
of the Secretary of War. 'r.'s
Most Powerful Army Officer.
as far as progressed, will have supervision
of the troops of the line to command, dis
cipline and direct all military operations
In fact, he will be the most powerful officer
that ever held a position in the army in
time of peace. OF course, he will be at
all time subject to the orders Of the Pres:-
dent and Secretary of War, and, in fact,
will act for them in everything ne does
Not only the purely military matters, sup
70 ho Tod IN ha
eral are given to the chief of staff In these
regulations, but also the matters OF supplies
and equipments are under his direction.
The regulations constitute the general
staff officers on duty in Washington boards
to consider matters requiring Investigation
and report All matters pertaining to the
army are referred to the general stan. The
general staff will also make recommenda-
tiOns regarding the qualifications OF OFF,
GERS for detail and promotion. large
share of important work now done In the
adjutant generals Office relative to the rec
ord and efficiency of officers Will be turned
over to the general staff. The enlistment
and recruitment of soldiers will also be
taken from the adjutant generals depart
ment and given to the general staff.
A Point Not Wholly Determined.
An important feature which has not been
wholly determined relates to the detail of
officers from the general staff to the
rious departments. The regulations as pre-
pared are understood to provide that an
officer SO detailed either to atdivision, a
department or a brigade in the field be-
comes the chief of staff of the command
ing officer of the troops operatfng<in the
field. The officer becomes chief of staff
without regard to the rank of any other
staff officers with the command. There has
been some suggestion that this provision
should be modified so that there will be no
conflict with officers who rank the staff
officers. but the staff committee seems to
be of the opinion that the law requires that
the staff officer shall be chief of staff to
the commanding officer.
The committee hopes to finish it's work so
as to be able to submit a draft to Gen.
Young before he starts on his proposed
tour of the great lakes next week.