Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1909-12-08
GENERAL BELL
WILL RETIRE


are several applicants for this high
military position. but General Arthur
Murray, present chief of coast artil-
lery, is said to be well in the lead for
the position. He has been close
friend of the president since Mr.. Taft
was at the head Of the war depart
usnt.
The appointment of General Murray
ts be chief Of staff Of the army would
b. most pleasing to Arizona. He Is.
brother Of Mrs. Judge Doan. who
90 present resides at Douglas. He Wis
he'd Arizona and is acquainted with
Il conditions and military needs of
the country along the border. Judge
Dian has already written to General
Murray about the ambition of Doug
Ia. sto secure the border pest proposed
FOR this section of Arizona, and should
he become the advocate of the estab-
ishment of a military post near
Douglas that would be a powerful IN
dence in our Iavor. whethc:e General
Murray is made chief of staff or not.
Concerning the probabilities as 10
he naming of a new chief of staff
fol the army by President Taft in
April next. a Washington correspon.
Isn't of the New York Tribune sends
The following to that paper,
Of coast artillery. win be the choice
d the President as successor to Ger
eral J. Franklin Bell as chief of staff |
shen the latter's term of duty ends |
next April. is the prediction of many
we'll posted officers in the war de-
partment. The choice of a successor
to General Bell is a topic of the ut
most interest to officers who realize
that in large measure the welfare of
the army depends on the ability OF
the individual assigned to this impor-
tant post
The officers regarded as most GER
tain TO be seriously considered are
General Leonard Wood, commanding
the department of the east; General |
William H. Carter, commanding the
department of Luzon; General Will
liam w. Witherspcon, assistant chief |
of staff, and General Murray.
Those who believe General Muir |
ray will probably be chosen point to |
the fact that not only did he enjoy !
close and pleasant relations with the
president when he was secretary of /
war, but that he possesses to a re-
markable degree the faculty of OBJ |
tanning desirable army legislation |
from Congress, and that with high |
technical attachments he combines the |
ability to get along without friction |
with all his associates in the war de |
partment. General Murray, it will be |
recalled, was almost solely RESPONSE |
BILE for the passage by congress of the |
army pay bill, and SO successful has
he proved in obtaining appropriations |
for his own department that there has |
been some sman degree of jealousy |
of the coast defense corps. Those |
who advocate the selection of Gen
eral Murray say taht as chief of staff |
his sympathies would be catholic, that |
1t would be incumbent on him to de- |
vote his energies to the proportionate
of every arm of the ser
vice, and that the success he has
achieved in the past augurs well for
the future development under his ad- |
ministration of all branches of the
military establishment"
Commenting on the probabilities of
a new chief of staff for the army the |
washington Posi- has the following:
Friction may dev..iop between |
President Taft and Secretary of War
Dickinson over the appointment of
a successor to General ]. Franklin |
Bell as chief of staff. 1t is not likely, |
however, to be of much consequence,
as the secretary is expected to defer
to the wishes of the president.
President Taft is said to favor |
General Arthur Murray. chief of the
coast artillery. for the place. while
Secretary Dickinson is DESTROYS OF
having General William n. Carter, at
present in the Philippines, as HIS chief
adviser, for that is what the chief of
staff really is. General Murray has
been close friend of the president
ever since the latter was secretary
of war, while General Carter and Sec
Rotary Dickinson have known each
other for years. Besides, General
Carter practically made the plans I'M
der which the staff was organized.
1T has been said by officials at
the war department that the contest
has now narrowed down to these two
men. General Leonard Wood. the
ranking officer OF the army. and Gen
erai Clarence Edwards, head of the
bureau of insular affairs, are still
within the possibility, however, of be
IN gappointed. But 1t was said that
1T is unlikely that either will be ap-
pointed unless there be real friction
.oTc- the appointment of General Car
Ter or General Murray"