Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-19

makes the following details to complete the
organization of the general staff corps, to
take effect August 10, 1903:
Maj Gen. Samuel B. M. Young, to be
chief ofAstaff. To be members of the gen
eral staff: Adjt Gen. Henry c. Corbin,
Brig. Gen. William H. Carter.
Brig. Gen. Carter will be relieved from
his detail in the general staff corps at sucn
time as it shall seem advisable in the dis
cretion of the Secretary of war, then to
proceed to his station in the Philippine
Islands under orders heretofore made.
Brig Gen. Tasker H. Bliss is detailed to
be member of the general staff corps, TO
take the place of Gen. Carter when relieved.
Maj. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young is re-
War College. Brig. Gen. Tasker II. Bliss is
detailed president of the Army War Col
lege; both to take effect on the 10Th of Au-
gust next"
Secretary Root also stated that Gen.
Chaffee would succeed Gen. Young as chief
of staff next January, when the latter re-
tires, presumably with the rank of Heuten-
ant general.
Gen. Corbin's New Duties.
The assignment of Maj. Gen. Corbin, ad-
jutant general of the army, to duty as a
member of the general staff, created by
Congress at its last session is of more than
passing significance. For one thing it
marks the diminution of the great power
heretofore devolved upon the adjutant gen.
erals department and it's transfer to the
general staff. Although Gen. Corbin will
not relinquish his commission as adjutant
general his detail to the general staff will
necessitate the designation of some other
officer of that department to act as ad
jutant general, and the general impression
obtains that Col William P. Hall, the
senior officer IN the office, will be desig-
mated for that duty.
Colonel John B. Babcock, the senior colo
mel of the adjutant generals department
now duty at headquarters of the army,
is booked for promotion to the grade of
brigadier general on the retirement of
Lieutenant General Miles in August and
will be immediately retired. That will make
Colonel Hall the senior colonel of the de-
partment
General S. M B. Young, who will become
lieutenant general of the army the re-
tirement of General Miles, will be the first
chief of the general staff. He will not serve
in that capacity very long, however, as he
will retire for age next January.
Equal to His Responsibility.
During the Spanish-American war General
Corbin was brought into close relations
with the President In the conduct of the
war, and was by him consulted upon ques-
dons of policy relating to military affairs.
and his conduct of the Office of adjutant
general, with all the manifold duties of adj
ministrative and executive dispositions.
proved that he was equal to the extraordf-
nary responsibilities thus thrust upon him.
In recognition of his services and of the
part which he took in the war the Congress
of the United States conferred upon him
the rank of major general in the army of
the United States.
Since Gen. Corbin has been ad1utant gen.
era1 the army has been Increased three
fold and legislation secured putting 1t
upon the lines Of progress demanded by the
experiences of the Spanish-American war
and the insurrection in the Philippines
While the Office of chief of staff has not
been authorized by statute In modern
times, the necessity for the office has ex-
listed In fact. and during the war of the re-
bellion the Office was revived, and with the
coming of the Spanish-American war the
necessity for the performance of the func-
tions of such an Office again existed, which
duties were performed by Gen. Corbin
although without the title of chief of staff
With the Incorporation of the general
staff, as now authorized by law Gin behalf
of which General Corbn has been an active
advocate), the army now presents as per-
feet an organization as legislation can
effect, and under the new plan of admins
tration which the law makes effective for
times of peace as well as war the person.
mel and line of the army will continue to
improve and keep apace with the advance
of civilization and the arts and sciences
and be maintained in that state of eff
cheney which our needs demand for the fu-
ture