The Washington times., 1917-03-25
COCKTAILS MAY HAVE
PORTFOLIO OF WAR
Military Man Needed for Work
Ahead-Baker May Suc-
ceed Gregory.

Discussion of a possible Cabinet
change. in the event of war with Ger.
many, has been<renewed. This change
deals with the War Department port.
folio, now held by Newton d. Baker.
1t involves the retirement of Attorney
General James Watt Gregory, the
transfer OF Mr.. Baker to the Depart
ment OF Justice, and the appointment
of Maj. Gen. George w. Goethals to
be Secretary of War.
These changes, IL they should be
brought about, involve no reflection
on either of the Cabinet officers in
volved. Attorney General Gregory
has long been anxious to resume hts
law practice, but the war crisis has
served to postpone any action that
the President may have had in r-ina
concerning his second-term Cabinet.
Secretary Of War Baker, although en-
tirely unfamiliar with military mix
ters at the time OF his enerance into
the Cabinet, has given an administra-
ton generally satisfactory to the
President. =
Gigantic Task Ahead.
The reason for q change in the War
Department folio at this time is
based on the argument that a gigan-
tic taAl, involving trained skill and
experience, is about to devolve upon
the head of tbeN army. The United
States is getting ready to put 1,000,-
900 men under arms. The Job Is rar
beyond any military undertaking In
the history OF the country, and II f.
one of peculiar difficulties. It re-
quires creative work of a highly spe-
cialized kind, and most experts are
agreed that II ought to be In charg.
of a military man who has demon
strated skill as an organizer.
In this respect General Goethals, by |
reason of his great Panama canal !
achievement, Is being pointed to as |
the most thoroughly proved man in |
the country for such a work. Whether |
General Goethals' possesses any skill |
As a military tacticiap has nothing to |
10 with the case. 1t will be a year at |
east before the new army does any
lighting. That year will be devoted
wholly to organizing.
GoethaIs n Wonderful Organiser.
General Goethals succeeded at
Panama where other men had failed,
lot because he was a greater civil
engineer than any OF them, but be-
'ause, combined with his engineering
Ibility, he possessed a genius for
:reating and maintaining an organ
zation. He had an army of workmen
lnder him at the Isthmus. and he haA
o organize and raise that army him
eif- His peculiar qualifications for
uch work demonstrated themselves
rom the very staff and the success
4 the canal work became inseparabIy
IDENTIFIED with his name.
FOR this reason there is again consid-
raoIe talk In Washington of GeothaIs
DR. Secretary OF War. just as soon as
becomes necessary to call a vast body
men to the coiors and train them 10
soldiers. II is not merely the train
ig and raising Of these men that win I
ave to be provided for. but there will :
great problems OF providing for their
iosistence; clothing. housing. transpor-
luon. equipment. etc. These problems .
III be essentially similar to those /,
hich were successfully solved by Gen
al Goethals at the Isthmus
PRESIDENT Wilson Is understood TO !
INK so well OF Secretary Baker that
would be loath to have him leave
le Cabinet. Mr.. Baker Is a lawyer OF
-tainments. and 1t is declared that he
ould easily slip into the Attorney Cen t
aiship. while there have been reports 4
ON time to time that Mr.. Gregory has a
zen anxious to retire to private prac- S
&c OF law. II these changes should a
Ike place. the motive will be the desirel
the President to obtain for the wart r
apartment the services Of a man who v
exceptionally fitted to undertake the T
eat military task Of giving the United e
ates a real army