Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-22
GEN. BELL EXPLAINS
WHY MILITARY SECRETARY
WAS PREFERRED.
It Was In Accordance With His Sug-
gestion-No Friction with
Gen. Ainsworth.

lions relating to the designation by the
President OF Gen. Ainsworth. military sec
rotary. to act as Secretary OF War in case
Of the absence of both the Secretary and
the assistant secretary at the same time.
the following statement was made at the
War Department today by Gen. Bell the
chief of staff:
In military organization and admins
tration due regard must always be paid to
relative rank. on which depend nearly all
the prerogatives. privileges and perquisites
Of military men. 1t is also the basis of re-
sponsibility. power and subordination. 1t
generally has close relation to length OF
service. 1t is. therefore. not extraordinary
should military men, regardless of rank or
position, feel, to say the least, regretfui
whenever exigencieS of the service place
juniors in relative rank and length of sery
ice in positions of supervision and control
over them.
Status of Chief of Staff.
In this connection. however. a misap-
prehension seems to exist in some quarters
with reference to the position of the chief
of staff Because it took the place and
was substituted for the position of COM
handing general of the army when that
place was abolished by Congress it seems
to have been generally assumed that the
chief of staff would hereafter possess the
prerogatives, the functions and exercise the
control heretofore in the hands of the COM
manding general of the army-that is to
say he would command the army. This is
not true. Regimental adjutants, adjutants
general and chiefs of staff, being simply
executive officers have no Independent
power of their own. Their legal functions
are confined to carrying out what they
know to be the wishes of their command
ers and transmitting their orders. Though
even in selecting officers for such positions
some consideration is always given to COM
parative rank, it has been customary since
the organization of civilized armies began
to assign officers to such positions entirely
regardless of rank when desirable or neces-
sary. Because they have no real independ-
ent power Of their own such a custom has
never been seriously questioned or objected
to by any one. War ministers and COM
handing generals can, without the slightest
improperly, transmit their orders by sec
ond lfeutenants, and frequntly do. But
when it comes to acting as Secretary of
War in his absence, then real power is ex-
ercised.
81 have never derived any satisfaction or
pleasure out of going over the heads of any
OF my seniors in rank and length of service.
l have no desire whatever to exercise any
supervision or control over them. Gen:
Ainsworth Is my senior both in age and
rank and in length of service.
Bell Recommended Ainsworth.
Because the officer holding the position
of chief of staff has heretofore acted as
Secretary of War in the absence of the Sec
rotary it was proposed to designate me to
do the same thing, but, having been con-
suited. l recommended the designation of
Gen Ainsworth, because as he is the
senior officer in Washington, and also as
closely connected with the administration
of the army as myself, | preferred he should
be designated. So far as know, Gen. Aims
worth did not seek the assignment or raise
any question about 1t. There was certainly
no differences between US about it and never
have been. This power has not been taken
away from me, as stated for have never
had it.
There has been absolutely no friction
whatever between Gen. Ainsworth and my
self either since my arrival in Washington
or at any other time
ut has not been usual or consistent with
the general spirit underlying all rules and
time-hoHored customs regulating subordina
ton, for seniors to authenticate orders
signed by juniors. 1t is not in the slightest
degree necessary. Any officer can authenti
cate orders. and it was by mutual agree
ment between Gen. Ainsworth and myself
that orders signed by me should be au-
thenticated by one of his subordnates in
stead of by himself.
No Slight Intended or Felt
"If any officers have been outspoken in
their criticism of the order designating Gen.
Ainsworth to act as Secretary of War in the
absence of the Secretary. they have been
insubordinate. If their criticism was based
upon any supposed slight to they were
mistaken. Since my assumption of the du-
ties of chief OF staff j have always been
treated with the utmost fairness and con-
sfderaton, not only by my Superiors, but
also by Gen. Ainsworth and all other bu-
reau chiefs. I have been received with
proffers Of assistance by all, and with far
greater cordially than there was any rea-
son to expect. Far from having any grieV-
ances. have much reason to feel gratified
and encouraged.
THE continual repetition in the public
ia {.i< G,i-
between Gen. Ainsworth and myself Is
harmful to the service. 1t would be far
more logical to assume that both he and
are sufficiently sensible to take a reason
able and impartial view of the situation,
and sufficiently DESTROYS of promoting the
best interests of the service to mutually ar
live at just and disinterested solutions of
questions affecting US both. This assump-
ton would have another virtue-it would be
In strict accordance with the TRUTH