The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-28

at Fort Sam Houston. Tex.
"F-Western department, to en-
brace the States of Washington, Orc.
gon, Idaho. Montana. California, Ne
Vada. Utah and the territory of Alas
ka. Headquarters at San Francisco.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood will COM
mand the Southeastern department
and Maj. Gen. j. Franklin Bell will
command the Eastern department.
Maj. Gen. Hunter Liggett will COM
raand the Western department and
Brig. Gen. Clarence r. Edwards will
command the Northeastern depart
ment. Brig. Gen. Edward H. Piummer
Will command the troops In the Pan
anna canal zone. Other department
commanders will remain as at pres
ent."
Congress must determine the sys-
tenn under which an army is to be
raised. Todays action provides more
elastic machinery found necessary as
result of the recent border mo-
bilization'i for the enrolling and ttain-.
ing of a great army, whether raised
as volunteers. by conscription or
through d universal service bill.
The object Of the creation OF the
new departments of the Northeast
and Southeast was to distribute among
three central commanders the work
of mobilization in the States most
thickly populated and from which the
greatest number of soldiers must
come. The present Eastern depart
ment directed the mobilization OF an
proximately 80 per cent. OF the $780,
coo guardsmen sent to the border.
With 100000 men, the maximum
authorized strength of the National
Guard in addition to whatever volun-
teers might be summoned, the task
would be too great for single de-
partmental organization because of
the vastness of the supply problems
involved
flcers issued more than a month ago
to cover any future mobilization
showed plainly that the war depart
ment had learned it's lesson and pro
posed to decentralize it's mobilization
problems as far as possible. Depart
mental commanders completely will
supervise the assembling of State
troops in their districts hereafter and
will take over the task OF recruiting.
The transfer of Gen. Wood from
the Eastern to tho Southeastern de-
partment caused considerable specu-
iation among army officers. No ex-
PLANTATION was given and Secretary
Baker declined to comment. The
Eastern department. even as 1t will
be after the new organization goes
into effect. is regarded as the most
important Of the six because Of it's
great economic development. AS q
general rule that department falls to
the command of the senior major
general Of the army available for such
duty.
Cen. Wood is the ranking officer Of
his grade, Gen. Pell, who now takec
command Of the Eastern department
being his immediate Junior In some
quarters 1t wos suggested that tn
new Southeastern department might
prove to be the centre of intercs
should the present international stu
etion develop need for military operc
tions to the South.
Indications tonight were that thc
administration planned to await ac-
,ion by congress before further war
like preparations are ordered Presi-
dent Wilson has authority to direct
that the regular army be brought up
to full war strength at once. and also
to call out the remainder Of the Ma
tional Guard and the naval militia.
In designating State troops to be
called out it Is apparent that the war
department has carefully surveyc
tho feld OF private enterprises whic'
might be assailed in event of dOmes
tic disturbances. The number o.
troops from each State summoned q
duty bears a direct relation to tho
) sh!pyards. munition plants and othc
industry In that State which may nec,i
military protection.
The president. following his con
fcrnces with Gov. Mccall Of Massp.
chusetts. Friday night and yesterdaN
with Secretary Baker reached tho con
clusion that as the federal govern
mcnt is responsible for the situatio'
which creates the danger of interna
disorders ii also should assume the