New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-09
rURNOlL RElGNS TN
WAR DEPARTMENT
D1-PFHT CHIEFS FIGHT
GENERAL STIFF.
THeg Say It Is Usurping Their
Dyties and MeddIing in Their.
Worb-ProbIcm for Secretary.
rFron Tie Tribune Buroau-l

.--.o,, Afa, S-There is turmoil in the
r,.-,s-+~7ept and abundant promise Of a
,5,c+iop IN that branch Of the military
-tetT,sf7r,7ent Of the decentralization which pre-
e in the Navy Department. The bureau
-ti.+s maintain that the General Staff Is inter
<.-frr with their proper functions It was this
.,-se attributed 10 the General STAFF which lea
:. House Military Committee at the last ses-
-, If Congress to incorporate in the army ap-
,-iation bill a clause which practically put
- I.ensral staff out Of commission. It sought
: -a57,oe the number Of junior officers attached
= +bat body. so that its facilities for doing
- z,or5 would be seriously hampered. Mem
-. ~ the General staff viewed this step with
slsrm- .-
1-o+binr came Of tho proposed legislation.
,s-;cb was ruled out of the bin on point Of
,-sa- and not restored by the Senate. It was
-o,ovnized however. as indication TO the
cs,sra1 STAFF that the members Of the House
,r;rrsrv Committee. at least. did not regard the
s+sr verv. seriously. and this was the more evil
ssrt because the clause Of the bill was adopted
unanimously by the committee
r vas then expected that a curb would be
-lsoed on the operations Of the General staff, in
stead Of which # has gone hlithely on. doing
various things which the bureau chiefs. who are
heads Of special staff corps. regard as usurpa-
tons Of their duties. The General staff was or
rsnized as an advisory body. but it has gradu-
suv assumed administrative functions which
promise 10 make trouble. II has been observed,
for instance. that questions involving interpre-
rsticn and application Of law are referred to the
STAR as well as 10 the judge advocate general
Of the army The design OF uniform rests
the recommendation made by the General staff
instead Of the quartermsster general: other
questions Of equipment and supply are taken out
Of the hands Of the commissary general and the
ouartermsster general. and the estimates which
the bureau chiefs have hitherto submitted are
sent 70 the General STAFF for revision
Il IS this last incident that has proved q call
70 srms 10 the bureau chiefs. They are respon-
sihle Tor their respective branches and they
consider that they know better than members
ot the staff, especially the junior officers OF that
body. what is required IN the interests OF the
establishment, Al least 50 far as their divisions
are concerned.
Tbs General Stah is also working on COM
urehensive scheme which contemplates reor-
gsnizadon as well as an increase Of the army,
snd makes soma radical changes which the bu-
rssu chiefs and representatives Of tbs line 90
aet regard es necessary. L has been decided by
ne General Stan that the army in tine Of
pssoe should comprise an enlisted force Of 49,
90 men. an increase Of over S5GGo. In view Of
the fact that the sentiment IN Congress has not
been il favor Of Al increase in the military es-
Enlistment q proposition for such an augmen-
tsron may be received with marked disfavor at
ths Capitol i the Secretary Of War and the
President should approve the recommendations
being prepared for their consideration and with
the expectation, az least IN the General STAFF.
that the scheme viii Be urged in the first an
nual report Of Mr.. Dickinson as Secretary Of
War and the first annual message Of President
Taft
One of the features likely 70 arouse consid-
erable opposition is that contemplating the con-
so1darion OF the ouartermasters department,
The subsistence department and the pay depart
uent into z general supply branch, the head OF
which st.au be 2 major general, with three dl-
visions under as many brigadier generals cor
responding 70 the present o1Iarterraaster gen
ers- connissary general OF subsistence and
peynaster general. This IS an Old plan, which
has been suggested 10 Congress on other occa-
sorE. and has met with opposition generally on
NE ground that it simply adds another wheel
u uae machinery OF army administration.
There are other subjects which have been
taken up by the General Sta1. to The manifest
osapp-oval of the bureau chiefs, and there are
Signs Of trouble which it viii require firm ac-
tlen On the part Of the Secretary of War 70 ad-
Just without creating in the War Department
he hubbub which has been raised In the Navy
Department over bureau consoIida tion and may
Sard reorganization.