Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-02
COMM G. ARMY CHANGES
CERTAIN PUBLISHED STATE
MENTs UNAUTHORIZED.

Certain published statements regarding
changes in the army personnel following
the retirement of Lieut.. Gen. Chaffeel are
said at the War Department today to have
been unauthorized and therefore possibly
misleading This is particularly the case
with respect to Brig. Gen. Franklin Bell.
Although Secretary Taft announced that
Gen. Bell had been selected to succeed Gen.
Bates as chief of staff on the latters retire
ment April IA next, it is declared that he
said nothing to justify the assumption that
Gen. Bell would be promoted to the grade
of major general on or before that date.
1t SO happens that if Gen. Bell Is to be
made major general within the period in
dicated it will have to be done on the re-
tirement of Maj. Gen. s. S. Summer on the
9th instant. Otherwise it can not be done
Until the retirement of Gen. Corbn, Sep
TENDER 10 next, no other vacancy VIII
occur before that date.
Gen. Bells Promotion.
1t has been published that Gen. Bells
promotion would be coincident with his as
sumption of the duties of the office of chief
of staff. As matter of fact that can not
be done unless plans are radically changed.
These plans, authoritatively stated, pro-
vide that when Lieut.. Gen. Bates retires
April Ia next he shall be succeeded as lieu
tenant general by Cen Corbin Now it
happens that Gen. Corbin is not in the line
of the army and that no pr notions Will
follow his advancement. c. Corbn is
''adjutant general of the army with The
rank of major general, in accordance with
the provisions of an act of Congress enact
ed for his special benefit. When he is
transferred to the line as lieutenant gen.
eral his present Office will cease to exist.
When he retireS in September next and
Major Gen. Macarthur is made lieutenant
general that will leave vacant major gen.
eralcy and consequent promotions all along
the line. aGf
The Case of Gen. Grant.
Although never officially announced, it
has been heretofore generally accepted in
military circles that the vacancy caused
by the retirement of Maj Gen. Sumner
next Tuesday would be filled by the promo
ton of Brig. Gen. Fred d. Grant, COM
manding the department of the east. the
senior officer of his grade. AS is well known.
he is the son of Gen. L. s. Grant, and it
is said he has set his heart on that pro-
motion. One of his friends said today that
Gen Grant feels SO deeply in this matter
that If he is jumped by one of his juniors
he would undoubtedly resign from the
army.
il Gen. Bell is made chiel of staff without
an increase in rank it will present the
anomaly of a brigadier general issuing
orders to lieutenant general and six ma
jor generals. all his superiors In rank.
To avert that situation 1t is regarded as
desirable to raise the rank of Gen. Bell as
soon as possible. AS already indicated
however, unless it is done the retire
ment of Gen. Sumner next Tuesday 1t can
not be done. according to the present out
look. until Gen. Corbin retires September
15 next. For these and other reasons the J
Presidents policy is being watched with
unusual interest.
Gen. Greedy. the junior major general, may |
be assigned to command the southernmost
division at Oklahoma City. now temporarily |
filed by Brig. Gen. Frank D. Baldwin. 1t Is |
assumed that Maj. Gen. Macarthur. now in !
India on his way home from Japan, will |
resume command of the Pacific division, at |
San Francisco.