New-York tribune., 1909-05-20
ARMY STAFF'S DENIAL
COMPLAINTS UNFOUNDED.
No USwpati0R Of Bureau or De
pdrtment Commanders Functions"
From The Tribune Bureau1


Washington. May 19.-The friends of the General
STAFF Of the Army are considerably concerned over
The purpose made known to them through these
dispatches Of opponents of the staff to submit 10
the Secretary Of War. his return from Panama,
certain grievances growing out Of the alleged
usurpation by the General staff of the prerogatves
OF the bureau chiefs in the War Department and
OF the several department commanders. Members
of the staff assert vehementy that these grievances
have foundation in fact. that they are nothing
more than the inevitable jealousy aroused by the
curtailn1ent of the power of certain chiefs and
others for which the General Staff was specifically
designed and that, matter Of fact, there has
been nothing TO warrant the. charge Of recent
usurpation of the functions Of either bureau chiefS
or department commanders. It is even broadly
intimated that the agitation Of the subject at TINS
time is due 10 the fact that the Secretary OF
War has yet enjoyed sufficient time TO familiar
ize himself with the working of the General stan
and the War Department than to any change III
the operations Of the stan.
The attitude Of Congress toward the genera
staff also. course. the occasion OF some CON
Germ but in circles the view is expressed that
opposition due in large part to failure 10
appreciate the work being done by the stan ana
10 a generally hazy idea Of its proper functions
and its personnel Investigation at the Cap1toI
reveals the fact that opinion there is divided.
There are some defects from the point OF view
of the practical politician. in the present system
Paragraph 76s Of the Army Regulations Of 1908 de-
fines one of the duties of the chief of stan as
that Of Informing the Secretary Of War as 10 the
qualifications Of officers, determined by their
records, with view proper selection Of special
details. assignments and promotions
MINORITY STANDS BY STAFF.
According TO certain frank members Of Congress
this IS a most unsatisfactory change from the old
system when II only necessary for Senator
or Representative to see one man, the adjHtant
general OF the army, in order 10 secure for rela-
tive or constituent a favorable assignment or
desired promotion. Other members OF Congress,
however, maintain that a system which at least
tends to promotions favorable assignments
based on merit, determined by competent
board of army officers. is more beneficial 70 the
army, even if less favorable TO the political amb
tions Of statesmen. II is hardly necessary To add
that those who uphold the latter view are in the
minority.
Elihu Root who to all intents and purposes was
the father Of the General staff believed that
improvement could be made over the one man
power which then prevailed in The direction of
the army and it was through his influence that
the organic law expressly stipulated that the Gen
eral staff corps should Investigate and report
upon ali questions affecting the efficiency Of the
army and have supervision Of all troops OF the
line and Of the adjutant generals. inspector gen
erals Judge advocates, quartermasters subsist-
ence medical. pay and ordnance departments. the
corps Of engineers and the signal corps. Naturally
such supervision IS not always welcome, according
to the advocates Of the staff, and the coordination
of the work of these departments necessarily
have been practically in supreme authority, subject
only 10 a civilian Secretary Of War.
The complaint that orders issued by the General
staff emanate from the Junior officers, with only
the pro forma approval Of some senior officer is
met With a denial, and with the further assertion
that before the creation Of the General STAFF such
minor orders prepared by some civilian clerk
and then received pro forma approval by the adju-
taut general. 1t is asserted moreover. that since
the creation Of the General staff there has been
ogy-e latitude nding
officers and that a broader sympathy with the
needs and purposes Of the line has prevailed.
MANY LINE OFFICERS IN STAFF.
Attention is called TO the fact that the personnel
Of the General STAFF is for the most part made
of officers detailed from the line for periods of four
years: that, coming TO the War Department fresh
from the line they naturally view propositions
from the standpoint OF the line rather than from
that Of the staff and that therefore their influence
tends to equalize what otherwise would be pre-
dominance Of staff view
It is worthy of note that paragraph 766 Of the
ARMY Regulations delegates 20 the chief of staff
the duty Of making and causing inspections ito
determine defects which may exist in any matter
affecting the efficiency of the army, duty which
will inevitably occasion friction and irritation. espe
cially on the part of those responsible for such
fects while there is unfortunately disposition in
some quarters Immediately TO seek TO exert politi-
col influence 10 secure the curtailment OF the
mower Of any organization which is compelled TO
,ri-icise the course Of certain officers. This it viii
be urged on the Secretary OF War, is responsible
in part at least for the disposition belitte the
usefulness of the General Star.
An erroneous impression regarding the size OF
the General staff is widely prevalent. Its limits
are confined by law TO three general officers and
fortv-tyo officers below that rank. q considerable
number of whom perform duties heads of offices
etc in addition Il duties the General STAFF
II is asserted on trustworthy authority that there
are more officers on the German General Staff de-
voting their time solely 10 the requirement and
studv Of military Information regarding the United
States than the entire personnel of the General
staff Of the army Of the United States
No. reference has been made here TO the aIl-in1-
portant. functions OF the second division OF the
General staff, which has supervision Of the Army
War College the collection and compilation OF
military information. the development OF methods
OF offence and defence and similar phases Of the
appIied science of There has been, apparent
w. no criticism OF the extremely useful work OF
this character performed by the General Staff and
although the value of this work probably is not
generally appreciated. it is likely enough of il is
known in legislative circles forestal the danger
OF being curtaied
Mr.. EusTls TO REFEREE BOAT RACES