The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-31
The Coming General STAN.

In an article published in the current
journal Of he Military Serrjce Institution,
Brig Gen THEODORE SCHwAE, L. 5. A,
raJ.rel. considers the General STAFF
which : 70 he organized IN our army next
month and makes some suggestions as
70 tho WORK that los before il, and the
way IN which that may be performed.
&c. TVo2Y UYrOH was the first 10 pro-
1o-. General SAT- FOR our army; but ten
years a., Gen. SCHwAN, after a study
Of tie S-stams in vogue in European
armies and especially IN Germany, pre-
par.d a scheme FOR such a staff for our
own and forces. His plan, however, was
~: ai,ptei then.
The General STAFF law, which Gen.
SCHwAN thinks viii BE- Secretary RoOT's
crGwuing ach ieyeuent Is the head of the
War Department, only outlines the
dIr .eS Of the bodr which il creates. but
doc, ~ wtSa,r, giving TO the President
The authority 70 extend the sphere OF the
General staff 20 the performance Of
such military duties as are not other
wi-o as -,l"i by law" The staff, says
Gav. ~CHwAN, will be made ub Of two
ua-,-. Of" Of which will be stationed at
yho ,apitai. the other Of which will be
att4 ed To rh" headquarters Of the terri
to-ial departments and Mr.. Roof has
a9rr,vcd this division BY directing the
IsrlH Of MANI General staff officers 10
-.ch departmental work. The staff at
I....'.,.ry yea will h. gygrr.ipd
IL preparing plans for the national de-
lenDe 4 term exceedingly and properly
c,.n.rehens.ye while that in the depart
men.s VII be a. the disposal Of the COM
handing Generals as chiefs of staff and
agents in informing and co6rdInatlng
tn" action Of The different officers sery-
ing within the departments Subject
20 the control II the commanding Cen
erals. the departmental General staff
officers vii! have supervision of the
training Of troops and submit plans for
exercises on large scale.
The object Of the existence Of the
+ General STAFF il success in war, the
I effectiveness Of the fighting force. For
: hi. reason. saws Gen. SCHwAN, himself
+ formerly in the Adjutant- Grneral's de-
( rartmenr, its members should. as a rule
! be selected from the line The officer
. who has been estranged from the troops
3 b. long Sarvlcr in the bureau, has not a
+ quick and trained eve for country.
/ does not understand or has forgotten how
10 handle troops in the field or 70 place
/ them properly in position for battle,
would, unless he possessed rare COM
p, r~nsating talents, be Of little Use in the
Genera! staff
OF the work to be done by the new
body Gen. SCHwAN considers the prepa-
ration of military history Of our civil
war OF great importance We have the
war records; but they have never been
dIgcsted they can be put in shape for
use only by military experts. Foreign
countries, notably Germany, with us
srafT history of the war with France. have
found such work Of value; 1t instructs
the military profession and sharpens the
tactical and strategical faculties Of It's
authors, who are likely to play leading
roles in the next war
The duty Of collecting military infor-
nation belongs naturally 10 the General
staff. says Gen. SCHWAN: and the intel
ligence Bureau Of the War Department
is 20 be transferred 10 il, in all proba-
blity. Apart from the intrinsic i'm
portance of having military information
at hand. the process OF collecting IT af-
fords excellent training 10 the officers
engaged in the work
The question Of rewards and prefer
ments Gen. SCHwAN considers one If
the important matters that belong 10 the
General Staff, for the reason that so
much depends in war upon the capacity
and fitness Of leaders. In preparing
plans for national defence the question
of leadership should come up, and there
with the consideration Of the efficiency
records of officers These are too much
neglected now, he says; and whereas, in
making appointments Of non-commis-
stoned officers and of staff officers in regi-
ments the appointing power for the
sake of his professional reputation tries
TO get the best men, the further from con-
nection with the troops the less does
tried and proved ability count Outside
influence becomes apparent at depart
mental headquarters in the choice of
aides. and is most powerful in Washing
ton Therefore, says Gen. ScHwAN, let
one division OF the General Staff exam
inc and keep note of the efficiency reports
of every officer, and while not presuminG
TO make or dictate appointments let it
submit to the appointing power the
names OF two or more competent persons