Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-03

Gen. Sheridan had no trouble. because Sec
rotary Lincoln and he were intimate
friends and divided the work of the depart
ment on satisfactory lines. Gen. Schoield
and Secretary Lamont were equally ami
able. but with these exceptions the Secre-
tary of War and the general commanding
have been always engaged In active hos
Titles with each other, often to the scandal
and detriment always of the service.
Secretary Root corrected all of this by
securing the passage of law aboHshing
the Office of commanding general of the
army and making the person who had for
merly held that rank chief of stan and the
right-hand man of the Secretary of War.
The latter stands between the chief Of
staff and Congress and the public, while
the chief of staff stands between the Sec
rotary of War and the army
The general staff was created In 1902. 1t
had been discussed for twenty years. but
until Secretary Roots time no one had the
energy and influence to get the proposition
into shape and secure its adoption by Con-
gress. They have 1t In all the continental
armies OF Europe, where 1t is regarded as
essential TO a successful military system
The object and the duties of the general
staff are to investigate and report upon all
questions affecting the welfare and eff
cheney of the army-its organization, arma-
ment. discipline. regulations, education,
transportation, equipment and the thou
under discussion. The general staff is also
charged with making plans for fortifica-
lions and the general defense of the coun-
try, and suggesting legislation and other
measures that seem to be important or
necessary for the military welfare of the
military branch of the service.
Functions of the General Staff.
The general staff is composed OF twenty
seven officers of various ranks, from cap
tain upwards, selected from the line for
their intelligence and efficiency. They are
they must return to their regiments .and
give somebody else a chance. The plan
has been working very well. There was
considerable friction at first but the or
ganization was entirely new, and the OFF,
GERS had to get used to 1t. 1t has been
improving from the first and is becoming
more and more useful. 1t has already done
a great deal of efficient work, particularly
in handling perplexing questions that con-
tinually arise concerning the administra-
ton OF the army. Reorganization is going
on all of the time The general staff is in
PRODUCING modern ideas and strengthening
weak spots. 1t is watching improvements
In other armies and adapting them to our
army and peculiar conditions Formerly
when anybody had an idea made a sug-
gestion no notice was taken of It, as gen.
eral thing. Sometimes an expensive board
was appointed to consider 1t, which usually,
after an indefinite period. made q report
that was pigeonholed, and that was the last
ton affecting the efficiency of the army and
the welfare of the troops is promptly re-
ferred to the staff, investigated reported
upon, discussed and either adopted or re-
jected. according to the judgment of the
officers.
During the Spanish war Secretary Root
recognized a serious weakness in the or
ganzation of the staff corps of our army.
They were the weak spots because of q
lack of numbers, experience and knowl-
edge. The officers who had had the benefit
of training did good work. but they were
few In numbers and could not do the bust
ness for an army larger than they had
served. Green men had to be appointed
to assist them, and the result was all that
might be expected under such circum-
stances. Secretary Root changed this sys-
tenn, and. with the exception of the engl-
neer and medical department and the chap
lains, has changed the staff from a perma-
nent appointment to a detail for four years.
In that way we are educating q sufficient
number of quartermaSters, commissaries
and paymasters to handle large army in
case of another war. All the members OF
these corps are now detailed from the Off
GERS of the line below the grade of lieu
tenant colonel for a term of four years
after which they are sent back to carry
the knowledge they have gained to the
regiment. This is an important considera-
ton. The officer does not lose touch with
his command. but the detail keeps him out
of the rut into which SO many faithful SOL
uleTs IdIi he gets a Change or station
and associations; his horizon is broadened
He gets new ideas and new inspiration, and
returns to his regiment much more compe-
tent than when he went away. Officers on
staff detail get no advance In pay or rank
Secretary Root urged that proposition for
obvious reasons, but Congress would not
agree to II.
| wrote you the other day about the edu-
cational system introduced into the army
by Secretary Root and l might tell you OF
several other things If l had the time. Sec
rotary Taft is carrying on the work with
the same zeal and interest that was shown
by his predecessor. notwithstanding his
numerous duties. With the government OF
the philippines and Porto Rico and the
management of the isthmian canal in his
hands the Secretary of War has more to
do than any other member of the cabinet,
but Secretary Taft Is wonder in trans
acting business. He ought to stay at the
head of the War Department 1t Is gen
orally expected that ne will accept Justice
browns seat on the Supreme bench. but
the President can get a good Judge easier
than he can get as good a Secretary of
War and there will be other vacancies in
the court in the future for Secretary Taft
to Ill.