Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-07-04
General Funston Relieved of
Supreme Control at His
Own Suggestion Il Is Re-
ported
COMM ANDER- In. CHIEF
SOON TO BE APPOINTED
Major general Wood Mention
ed as Being Slated for New
Post Pershing viii Be Pro-
noted,

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Washington, July 3.--With moro
than $50. 600 troops assembling along
tho Mexican border. the war departs
ment took steps to decentrslige the d.
rect administration OF the l.s00-mila
, frontier IN the interest of efficiency
and. probably. to pave the way FOR tho
appointment of Il supreme comman-
der TO coordinate all military activi~
ties on the International line.
The border, formerly In the south
ern department from the gulf of Mex
leo 10 California, now is divided into
three military departments, COM
manded by Maj Gen. Frederick Fun
stOn, Brig. Gen. John j Pershmg aud
Maj. Gen J Franklin Ben, The war
department announced late today that
the order creating a new department.
TO be known as the New Mexico de-
partment, commanded hy Brigadier
General Pershing, had been tempo
farily suspended pending the adjust
ment OF minor administration details
Of the rearrangement"
Funston's jurisdiction Lcssencd.
Department officials said the new
order which automatically relieves
General Funston Of supreme com.
mnnd on the border and the enormous
responsibilities that have crowded up
on him, had no slgniflcance as indp
eating preparation for war. There
was no announcement In regard TO tho
| probable selection Of senior major
general for commander -in-chief OF
! the border guard and field forces.
There are Indications that MAJ Gen.
! Leonard Wood, now commanding the
department Of the east, IS heius con-
qidered
Another probable change indicated
hy the new order Is the promotion of
( General PershinR under the army bill
now effective, II provides for an ad
ditional major general, aud II Is said
that General Pershing viii be given
the post
The Three Divisions.
The statement issued by the de-
partment says.
"rhe present southern department
is divided as follows, with assignments
Of command thereto as indicated:
"a The southern department. to
be under command Of MAI. Gen Fred
crick Funston, to embrace that part
Of the present department to q line
east of El paso.
New MEXICO Department
"B~-The department OF New Mex
leo, with headquarters at ll Paso,
Tex. to be established under the com
mund of Brig Cen. John J Pershing.
TO extend from western boundary of
southern department 70 the l09th
meridian.
"C-That portion of the southern
department west Of the l09th merl-
dian to be assigned 10 the western de-
partment, under command OF Mai
Gen. J. r. Boil, with field headqunr-
ters for same al Douglas, Arig"
General Bell is now in command of
the western department. with head
quarters at san Francisco, lie also
Is former chief of staff Of the army.
TO Name Supreme Chief.
Pending the appointment OF an Of
ncer TO supreme command. the func-
uons Of the three departments will he
co-ordnated through the war depart
ment.
The assignment Of General Pershing
to the command Of the department.
Of New Mexico, it was stated official
ly does not mean that the expedition
into Mexico 81 about to be Withdrawn
or that General PershinB himself VIII
return 20 direct the affairs OF the de-
partmcnt from l1l Paso. his new head
quarters. II Is assumed that ne VIII
remain in the field. If he Is promot-
cd "a brigade commander probably
will be sent to relieve him in Mexico
unless developments should neecssl-
tate the sending OF a large number OF
additional troops across the border.
Beil still IN ~ PasO,
Brig Gen George He'll, Jr., will re-
main In direct command Of the Ei
Paso district, where his brigade Is on
duty
Retirement of General Pershing's
expedition toward the border was de-
clarcd by Officers at the war depart
ment 10 be due To military reasons
alone At the state department Il was
said there had been no change in pol
ict regarding the expedition,
Army officers explained that tho
problem Of supplying the expedition
has become more and more difficult
The rainy season is due. but there has
Ircn no rain for weeks ana the coun-
tr. about General Pcrshings camp
has been stripped of the last yestigr
of forage for hs animals
pcrshine's Location Unknown,
THE war department ia without di-
rrt information ps t0 the present
position of the cKpediuoutry forces,
Iuu mHtDr having been ARRANGED he-
ia.n Gourmls Funston and pershtER.
GUnw Funston Wus given Nldr iau
tIdr Boo thIs res1ri Whru the fAuadl-
UaW WH .eui
TH HIr department had 800 ad-
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GtHaII iHfranM tU flr demands sent
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