The Washington times., 1909-11-22
One or Other Is Likely TO
Succeed ]. Franklin
Bell.
ARMY IS DIVIDED
OVER DISCUSSION
Interested Whether President Taft
Will Follow Roosevelt's
Policy of Preferment."

That the next chief OF stan OF the
srmy 70 succeed Gen J. Franklin Bell
viii be either Mai. Gen. Leonard
Wood or MAJ Cen William H Carter,
is asserted on excellent authority.
The question whether President TAFT
viii carry out the Roosevelt policy of
preferment" and make Gen. Leonard
Wood the chief OF STAFF Is one OF the
most acute interest just now in all
army quarters.
The army is divided on the question
whether II IS wise TO make the ranking
officer of the army the chief Of stan
with headquarters in Washington. The
antagonism to General Wood has, in
a large measure, abated and the objec-
tion 10 his appointemnt as the head OF
the general stan is only in a slight
measure based on personal grounds.
According to army gossip, there is
good reason to believe that If General
Wood, the ranking officer Of the army
lets il be known TO President Taft he
would like TO come to Washington and
direct army affairs, he Will get the ap-
pointment.
Others in Field.
The other officers whose names are
mentioned in connection with the place,
which is in many ways the most impOr-
tant position In the army, include Gen.
Arthur Murray. CHIEF Of the coast ar
tulery; Gen. William P. Duvan. who
has had Ion gservtce with the general
stan, and Gen. Clarence r. Edwards.
chief of the Insular Bureau
The chief OF stah issues orders, by ol-
rection OF the Secretary Of War; which
NAV effect superiOrS IN rank. Inc IacI
such orders are supposedly direct from
the Secretary Of War takes away from
them some Of the smart which q rank
ing officer might feel if he knew a
subordinate was responsible Tor q com
mand 10 do something 10 which lie was
aVerse. II is true, however. the chief
OF stat frequently takes the Initiative
IN recommending army changes and gets
the sanction OF the Secretary " War
and the President later. If the chief
of stam is not the ranking officer Of the
army this situation is likely 10 lead TO
1t is well known there is friction now
between the office OF chief Of STAFF and
of the adjutant general General Aims
worth RANKS General Bell and at the
same time General AinswOTth has an
influence with Congress that makes
him power In the army not easy 10
surmOunt.
General Wood, were made chief OF STAFF,
the situation would become what Il was
Just before Genera. Bell, the present
ranked by several officers in the service.
Operations of staff.
Gen. William II. Carter, now station
ed IN the Philippines, IS said to know
more about the law governing general
etaff operations than any other officer
in the army, and he is q highly capable
soldier An objection urged 10 him IS
that he is altogether too friendly TO the
cavalry branch of the service, The
Jealousies between the different arms
Of the service are intense and have
been much felt IN this contest over the
appointment OF a chief Of star. General
Carter has written one or more books
on the cavalry. and is a medal OF
honor man.
General Carter IS the man TO whom
Elihu Root was chiefly indebted when
he formulated his plans for a general
staff, and Senator Root has acknoWI-
edged this. President Taft knows all
about General Carter's connection with
the plans for establishing the general
staff and OF mis- fine record In the
field
In time Of war the chief Of STAFF would
be the foremost adviser of the Presi-
dent and Secretary Of War. He might
be called TO lead the armies IN the
field, and the position IS therefore Of
the utmost Importance.
General Wood Is now stationed at
New York. IN command Of the Depart
Inent of the East II he becomes CHIEF
OF STAFF il viii be the climax Of the
remarkable career of d man who twelve
years ago was a captain and an assIs-
Jant surgeon in the Medical Corps of
the United States army.