Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-19
BAKER SWITCHES
HIS WAR COUNCIL
Three of Five Relieved of Pres
ent Duties; Major General
Goethals Recalled.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Secretary
BAKER today moved forward the or
ganization of his newly created war
council by relieving from their pres
ent duties three OF the five officials
assigned to that body This will leave
thcm free TO devote all their time to
the council task of CO. ordinating all
war activities in such a way that the
time heretofore believed necessary for
the sending to France OF an army OF
sufilcient Size to insure the defeat Of
Germany win be reduced materially.
MIR. Baker announced that Major
General George w. Goethals has been
, recalled TO active duty and would
become acting quartermaster general
releasing Major General Sharpe for
service with the council
Major General Weaver will be re-
lieved by Brigadier General Barrette,
who becomes acting chief of coast ar
ullery and Major General William
Crozier by Rrigadier General Charles
Wheeler, who becomes acting chief
OF ordnance.
To Retain Positions.
General Bliss, chief of staff, and
Major General Crowder, the other Of
ficers on the council, will retain their
present positions, the former as chief
of staff, and the latter as Judge adNO-
cate general and provost marshal gen
eral. General Bliss retires December
81, for age, but probably will be re-
tained on the council. Preparations
being made today for the council in
dicate that General Crowder might
be able to devote only a small part
of his time hereafter to other duties.
Mr.. Baker decided that other Off
GERS of the council must be In the war
department building itself, and affices
now occupied by General Crozier as
chief of ordnance, probably will be
used, the ordnance bureau being trans
ferred to another building.
Mr. Baker indicated in his last war
review that the Russian armistice has
made 1t necessary for the United
States to accelerate its war prepAra-
tions. The gap in the allied ranks
vacated by Russia must be filled
promptly, many officers here say II
the general situation shall continue to
show n balance OF actual as well as
potential power in favor OF the United
States asd the allies when the summer
campaign reaches its height in 1918.
Bring Similar Message.
Members of the house mission
which participated in the war confer
ence in Paris are believed TO have
brought back a similar message.
General Bliss is preparing detailed
report for the president and secretary
and there is little doubt that his re
port will lay stress on the need OF
haste in American preparation.
II is generally believeds that the
American Representatives at the WAR
conferences made some definite state
ment as to what the United States
could and would do and how long 1t
would take TO do II. 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 would not discuss
today General Bliss successor as chief
of staff Many reports as to who
wonld be the new chief have been cur
rent in the war department. but the
only public recognition Mr. Baker has
given them was TO say that recent
report that General Pershing was to
be recalled to fill the post lacked any
foundation