New-York tribune., 1918-01-03
Ex.Leader of Pioneer u. S.
Regulars in France Sent
to Charleston
--------
Mann to Direct
East Department
Baker Assigns Rainbow's S
Ex-Commander to Gov
ernor's Island
LStaf CorYcspondenccl


WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The assign
ment Of Major General William A.
Mann to command the Eastern Depart
nent. with headquarters Governors
Island, and Major General William i.
s;her, 10 command the Southeastern
Department, with headquarters at
Charleston. S. c., WAS announced to-
nieht by Secretary of War Baker.
The two generals reported to the
cb;ef of staff Of the army to-day after
arriving in America yesterday from
France. where they had been in COM
mand respectively of the Rainbow Ma
.onal Guard Division and the first dl-
vision to be formed Of regulars IN
pershing's expeditionary forces.
The withdrawal Of General Mann
from overseas duty was occasioned by
,hvsical disabilities which made it i'm
nossible for him to continue the I'M
por.ant position Of leadership OF the
Rainbow Division. The return Of Gen
oral S;bert. however,, is said to be due
directly to a recommendation by Cen
srsl Pershing, with whom, It is said,
Sibert had not been wholly IN accord
or important military questions.
stir Over Sibert's Return
While General Mann's return was
not unexpected, the case Of General
sbert caused real stir in the War
Department. Until the arrival III
WASHINGTON Of the erstwhile com
mander Of the pioneer division in the
American overseas forces and his sub
seouent assignment to departme Al
work the hint Of friction between Per
sbins and his subordinatos was not
apparent.
Well informed army men, however,
see in the withdrawal of Sibert unmis-
taxable evidences of disafection be-
tween the officer and his chief. Sibert s
selection as commander of the first di-
vision Of regulars in Pershings forces
was received at the time by War De
partment officers as mos. welcome
choice. And his "demotion." army men
insist. was not due to any lack of mill
tary knowledge, qualities of leadership
or insufficient physical qualifications
His assignment to the Southeastern
Department practically places him out
side of the important task of training
the men who will bear American arms
abroad, fellow officers asserted.
Mann's Post Important
The assignment of General Mann
however, was pointed to as one of the
most important in the army at home
The fact that Mann formerly was chic.
of the Militia Bureau, it was explained
makes him most competent man t,
handle the affairs of the Eastern Dc
partment, inasmuch as a large part o
the work Of supervising the duties o
the new United States Guard will COM
within his jurisdiction.
While no official announcement wa
made by the War Department as to th'
successors Of Mann and Sibert. it i
known that Major General Charles T
Menoher, a field artillery officer, ha
assumed command of the Rainbow
Division. and Major General Robert L
Rullard has succeeded to the command
OF the division of regulars. succeeding
Slbert.
General Hoyle to Retire
Brgader General Eli y. Hoyle, nov
IN command OF the Eastern Depart
ment, is 10 be placed on the inactiv
list when General Mann takes charg
at Governors Island. Major Genera
William P Duval, now commanding
the Southeastern Department, also i
to be returned TO the inactive list whel
General Sibert assumes command.
The War Department also announce
tonight that Major General Richar
N. Blatchford, who returned with Gen
erals Mann and Sibert, would be as
signed to duties in connection with tn
training of troops. General Blatchfor
is all infantry officer and formerl
was commandant Of the School of Mus
ketry at Fort Sill, Okla.