The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-22
PROGRAM OF WAR.
NEWLY CREATED COIIN(gI,
TAKES DEFINITE FORM.
Three Members Relieved From Pres
cnt Duties to Devote Entire Atten-
ton to Task.

Washington, Dec 18.--Secrctary
Baker today moved forward the or
ganization Of the new created war
council by relieving from their pres
ent duties three Of the five officers as
signed to that body. This will leave
them free to devote all their time to
the councils task of cOOrdinating all
war department activities in such at
way that the time heretofore believ-
ed to be necessary Tor the sending to
France of an army of sufficient size
to insure the defeat Of Germany will
be materially reduced.
Mr.. Baker announced that Maj.
Gen. George w. Goethals had been
recalled to active duty and would be-
come acting Quartermaster general,
relieving Mai. Gen. Henry s. Sharpe
for service with the council Mai
Gen. Erasmus Weaver will be reliev-
ed by Brig. Gen. John ID. Barrette.
who becomes acting chief Of coast ar
tillery, and Maj. Gen. William Crozicr
by Brig. Gen. Charles Wheeler who
becomes acting chief of ordnance.
Gen. Tasker II. Bliss, chief Of staff
and Maj. Gen. E. H. Crowder. the
other officers Of the council will re-
tain their present positions, the form
er as chief of staff, and the latter as
judge advocate general and provost
marshal general. Gen. Bliss retircs
December 81 for age. Preparations
being made today for the council indi-
Gated that General Crowder might be
able to devote only a small part of
his time hereafter 20 other duties.
Mr.. Baker decided that offices Of
the council must be in the war de-
partment building itself.
Mr.. Baker indicated in his last war
review that the Russian armistice has
made it necessary for the United
States TO accelerate it's war prepara-
ton. The gap in the allied ranks, va
Gated by Russia must be filled
promptly. many officers here say, II
fthe- general situation shall continue
to show balance Of actual as we'll of
potential power in favor of the Unit
ed States and the allies when the
summer campaign reaches it's height
in 1918. Members Of tie house mis-
sion which participated in the war
conference in Paris are believed to
lave brought back a similar message
1t is generally believed the Ameri-
can representatives at the war con-
ference made some definite statement
as to what the United States could
and would do and how long it would
take to do it. The new council
probably will undertake to make GER
tain the delivery Of whatever military
strength was pledged to the allies at
that time.
Secretary Baker today would not
discuss General Bliss successor as
who will be the new chief have been
current in the war department but
the only public recognition Mr.. Baker
has given them was to say that a re.
cent report that General Pershing was
to be recalled to fill the post was
without foundation.
Among officers mentioned for chief
Of staff have been Maj. Gems Hunter
Liggett, John Morrison Clarence Ed
wards, John Biddle. the present as
sistant chief. Joseph e. Kuhn, Leon
ard Wood and other divisional com
manders. Recently the possibility
was suggested that General Crowder
might be considered and from France
mas come suggestion that Mai. Gen.
Peyton March might meet with ap-
proval among General Pershngs Of
ficers.