New Britain herald., 1917-03-26
,BIG SHAKE-UP IN
 MILITARY CIRCLES
Wood Gees South Country Is
 Divided Into Six Depts.

Washington. March 26.--Military circles were treated to . sensation last night when it was announced by the War Department that Major Gen. Leonard Wood, now commanding the Eastern Department, with headquar- ters at Governors Island, in New York harbor, had been ordered re- lieved of that command and trans- ferred to the command of new mill itary department, with headquarters at Charleston. s. c. The nav depart ment and one other are now embraced in the eastern department. which is. divided into three separate depart ments by the order announced last night. The transfer of Genefaf Wood will become effective on May I.
 The order was entirely unexpected It Is supposed that the visit of Pres- ident Wilson5 to the oflace of the sec- retary of war Saturday Afternoon was for the purpose of discussing the re- moval of General Wood and the other changes involved. While It was in- sisted in oflcial military circles that nothing moro than military routine was responsible for General Woods, transfer, the mere announcement that he WAS to be removed from the most important military connmAnd in the United States when virtual state of war existed aroused comment and criticism among admirers Of General Wood In Washington.
 The new departments to which Con- eraI Wood is to be sent as its first commander will cover the stateS south Of Mason and Dixon'a line aai& esIst of the Mississippi and wtll embrace the defense of the Atiantic and ouf coasts from Hatteras to aafvestofi. Friends of General Wood as6orted iast night that he is being unfalrly treat- ed by the administration in being transferred to this new post from the department 0f fthe easf At this critical stage in the defense of tli1 nation against foreign attack.
 Six Depar tnaents Ckcated.
 General Woods transfer was an- nounced when Secretary Baker. gave out an onacial statsment tos the effect that. in ord0r s.to fAcalitate decAn- tralixation of coInmand. the United states iss dtvided into aax Ssailifa r.v da. partments In placa of tho four now existing. :" The two addtttonal tnlI3 tary departments arc obtained by subdiyidinE the EaAtern dSpartment into three. s sa
 One of these new departrneass VIII enbrace the Nov England statae, and will be known 1T the, Northeast- ern department, while All that part Of the present. Easter1l asparfment lyinG south Of Mason and Dixon,s line and 4ast Of the Nissis4lppi b. comes tho nov South A1tSrn d1paft- ment. The rest of the former Easter1a department, axtsndins from the east+ ern frontier of New York to the southern boundary of virEinia and to the western frontiers of Pennsylvania tie new Eastern department. The partments. with minor modifcations, will remain substantially as they are at the present time.
 The decentrAlixaxtion of command involved in these important military changes is to become effective on l May l, when Major General T. Frank lin Bell will succeed Major General Wood at Governors Island. The com manding officers of tho sfx military departments after that date will be:
 Eastern department, Major Goneral J. Franklin Bell. now co1nrnandine the Western department.
 Northeastern department, Briga- dier General Clarence R. Edwards. now commanding the troops In the: Panama Canal Zone.
 Southeastern department, Maj0rs General Leonard Wood. now com- rnanding the Eastern department.
 Central department, Major Gen eral John T. Pershing. its present commander.
 Western department, Major Gem cral Hunter LAggett, now In command of the Philippine department.
 The command of the Philippine de- partment, which is being relinquished by Major General Lggett. probably will devolve upon BrieAdier General Charles !. Bailey. Tho command Of the troops in the Canal Zone will de- yolve on BriRaAier GenerAl Edward H. Hummer. now on the Mexican border.
 Goes Where He IL Sent New York, March 2s. When asked | iast night if he had any. comment to raake on his transfer , to the new Southeastern department. General Wood said:
 T am a soldier. and I so whore
 am sent"
 1 CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRADE
 London, March 2e, 4:2o a. m. f.che Telegraph says that the commit
 tee appointed under the presidency 0i the home secretary to investigate tho Iso,1or trade has reported in favor o1