Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-03
PERSH|NG TO HAVE
TITLE OF GENERAL
Grade Will Be Restored to Pro-
vide Suitable Rank for Com
mander in France.
BAK Err SUBMITS PROGRAM
Early Promotion Essential to OBJ
viate His Embarrassment
Among Allied Officers.
BAKER SUBMITS PROGRAM
IBy Associated press-l

tBy Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, October 2.-ReyivaI
Of the grade of full general" is
planned by the War Department to
provide suitable rank for Major-Gen-
eral John ]. Pershing, commanding
the American expeditionary forces in
France.
1t was learned tonight that Secre-
tary Baker already has submitted the
departments program, which includes
provision for the title of general to be
held by the officer serving as chief of
stan. and the making of several lieu
tenant-generals to command corps un-
der General Pershing. to the Sena to
Military Committee. and that legisla-
ton carrying 1t into effect is to be
pressed for prompt passage when
Congress reconvenes in December.
But four American army officers
have borne the title Of general-wash-
ington. Grant. Sherman and Sheridan
and only a few have been lieutenant
generals. Since General Sheridan died,
in 1855. the rank Of general has been
extinct. No provision for a lieuten-
ant-General on the active list has been
made since Lieutenant eneral John c.
Bates retired. in 1906, though there are
three officers of that grade now on the
retired list-General Nelson A. Miles,
General Samuel B. NJ. Young and Cen
eral Bates.
PROMOTION OF PERsHISG
CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL
Secretary Baker explained to the
committee that early promotion of
General Pcrshing was essential. be-
cause he is to command a great army
OF many corps. emitting him to the
highest military title and in order to
obvtate embarrassment resulting from
the high rank of the allied COM
manders with whom he Is associated
marshals, field marshals and generals
1t Is equally as necessary, he pointed
out, that the chief of staff, the direct
Ing head of the army In Washington
should rank all other officers except
the expeditionary commander, and that
staff officers generally should have
rank corresponding to that of officers
in the field.
That General Pershing would be
promoted has been taken for granted
In army circles ever since he was Sc
lected by President Wilson for the
supreme trust of leading America S
soldiers against the Germans, though
the general belief has been that lieu
tenant-general would be the rank.
Until the war army major-generals
were nominated recently. he was next
to the bottom of the list in that grade.
Ranking him now are N1ajor-Generals
I.an rsd
Thomas II. Barry and Tasker II. Bliss,
all OF whom were wearing their two
stars long before Pershlng was ad-
Vanced upon returning from his me-
morable expedition into Mexico.
Execution Of the administrations
plans Will not give General PershIng
spectacular promotion for the first
time He was a captain of cavalry,
forty-six years old. in 900 when Pres
ident Roosevelt jumped him over the
heads of hundreds of other officers
to make him a brigadier. His brill
liant campaign against the Philippine
Moros had brought his talents strong
ly to the attention Of Mr. Roosevelt
SLOW ABOUT CONFERRING
HIGH RANK ON OFFICERS
Although the United States govern
ment always has been slow about con-
ferring high rank in the army--Nfc-
Clellan and Meade were only major
generals when they were generals in
chief-it is realized both at the War
Department and in Congress that
Pershing probably will lead the great
est lighting force America ever has
put into the field. His responsibility
will be second only to that of Gem
eral Petain. commander-in-c chief of all
French armies, and Field Marshal Sir
Douglas Haig. commanding all Brit
jsh forces in France. Under these two
officers are numerous Fronch and Brit
ish generals of very high rank.
AS soon as the forces in France
have reached a strength witch will,
Justify the action, the divisions will
be organized into army corps, and a
lieutenant-gen should command
each corps. 1t Is probable also that
ments under General Persning will be
given rank in proportion to the i'm
portance of their duties. If that is
done. it will follow that the heads OF
the staff corps In the United States.
the bureau chiefs OF tine War Depart
ment, must be given higher ra nks than
their subordinates in tho field. Some
of tho bureau chiefs, but not all. are
now mator-gcnerals.
The question of promotion of s:arf
corps officers has proven q trouble
some one. officers assigned perman-
emily to the quartermaster corps, the
ordnance department or the other reg
ular staff corps have had little oppor-
tunity for advancement under existing
regulations.