New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-17
Cen. Wood Is
Shifted Again
Transfer to Command Of
Fort Riley Training Camp
Stirs Comment-O'Ryan
Gets a Division

WASHINGTON, Aug. l6.-Thirty-two
major generals, including Major Gen.
eral Leonard Wood, received assign
ments to command the National Guard
and National ARMY divisions of the
war armies by War Department orders
issued tonight. On the list are all of
the present regular departmental COM
manders, who are now called upon for
duty in the field and probably at the
front in France.
General Wood, from the Department
of the Southeast, is TO command the
Division of the new National Army to
be modified at Fort Riley, Kansas
This transfer has inspired both favor
able and unfavorable criticism of the
War Department in official circles.
1t is held by General Woods friends
in the War Department and elsewhere
at the Capital that it is a distinct loss
to the service to place him in any ter
ritory other than that of the Eastern
Department, where he has rendered
such efficient service during recent
years.
On the other hand it is pointed out
that by placing him in command of q
division of the new National Army he
eventually will see service in Europe.
This, however, probably will not come
about for some time, ana meantime, it
is expected that General Pershing, his
junior in rank, will be elevated to the
grade of Lieutenant General. thereby
becoming ranking officer of the army.
Unless Pershing is so advanced in
grade, it is pointed out, General Wood
would outrank him, and it is not be-
lieved that the War Department in
tends to displace Pershing from su-
preme command of the American fight
ing forces in Europe.
Both of the National Guard major
generals nominated Tuesday by the
President-John F. Organ, of New
York, and Charles NJ. Clement, of
Pennsylvania-are placed at the heads
of divisions in their branch, with some
regular army brigadiers under them.
The order also assigns brigadiers of
both regulars and Guardsmen to CONF
mand the brigades of each division. and
a colonel or lieutenant colonel to serve
as chief of staff under each of the
major generals. All are directed to re-
port not later than August %, if prac-
ticable. Successors to the depart
mental commanders in their present
posts have not been named.
Changes to Be Expected
In a note appended TO the order it
is stated that the order of designation
of the divisions bears no relation to
the order in which they will go to the
front. A warning is added that shifts
and changes in the officer personnel of
the divisions are to be expected.
One change apparently has been
made since the list was made up.
Major General Francis j. Herman is as
signed TO command the Thirty-second
NdllOlidi budlu DiNloltis bidt
officer, in an order issued yesterday,
was temporarily designated as chief of
the new Division of Embarkation of
the General Staff, in charge Of all
transportation.
In March of this year Major General
Wood, was transferred from his post
as commander of the Department of
the East and assigned to the command
of the Department of the Southeast,
with headquarters in Charleston, S. c.
This occurred on March 25. On
March 20 David Starr Jordan, chief
of this country's apostles of peace, had
filed formal complaint with Secretary
Baker against the speeches of General
Wood in support of preparedness.
General Wood received the choice Of
going at once, either 10 the South or
to Hawaii or the Philippines.
The War Department said that the
transfer had complimentary aspect"
Protests against the transfer poured
in upon the War Department, which
once almost changed it's mind and was
on the point of resembling the order,
but finally carried out its original pur-
pose. General Wood arrived at
Charleston on April IS.
other officers assignments
Page 3.