The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-03-14
NEW CHIEF OF ARMY
KIN OF WASHINGTON
From the New York Times.

They are about to put the youngest
major general at the head OF the general
staff Of the United States army. and news
dispatches from Washington hail the
move as a big advance in speeding up our
war work. Those who know Maj. Gen.
Peyton Conway March, the man selected
to become acting chief of staff and later
20 succeed General Bliss as permanent
chief, with promotion to a full general
ship, say that from the time he uttered
West Point and played on the first foot
ball team the military academy ever had.
his record has been one Of aggressiveness'
initiative, organizing power. and a pas
sion for getting n thing done
During the Spanish-American war. In
the fighting about Manila. the fire from
a biockhousc on a hill just outside the
American lines becam" so threatening
that General Macarthur saw il would
have to be stopped at once. He called
for a commanding officer who would vol
unteer to take the enemy position.
II WILL shouted Captain March, and be-
fore the words were we'll out of his mouth
he was over the embankment with half
a hundred OF his men behind him. They
were artillerymen and had no arms ex-
cept revolvers. According to the rules,
a charge against a fortified position with
revolvcrs couldn't succeed. But Captain
March did it. That is the way he has
always worked.
1t is generally known tina General
March went over with Pershing to have
complete charge OF the American artil-
lery forces on the front. The newspapers
during the last few days have borne
testimony OF the effectiveness Of the
American artillery methods, and officers
and civilians returningly lately from
France have brought back word Of the
impression General March has created by
Energy and skill in organization OF his
branch of the service.
An expert knowledge Of general fight
ing conditions is one Of the valuable
qualifications OF the new chief of staff.
fIe knows from first hand how our meth
DDS OF training have worked out. He
knows the practical necessities Of equip
ment-what should be pushed and what
may wait.
There is the unanimous opinion among
army men that March is the best man
for the high place to which he has been
assigned. There Is also that unanimity,
already mentioned, as to his strictness.
Beyond those two points you can get
a little variety OF opinion, according to
the age OF the officer questioned. If II Is
an older man, on the active or retired list,
under whom March has served, he will
tell you that the general is a great
teacher. Men who were young officers
In the sO-called days of the "old army"
pNlol nc a
ceased to exist as such, and who served
then under March In the old 9Th and
9Th artillery. think OF him I'm very much
the same way as university graduates
think Of q favorite old professor who
made them work like dogs but gav them
the essentials OF their after success.
Other officers shamelessly take the
'I-told-you-so" attitude after the fact.
They knew all the time that some day
.>eyton G.. March would be the head OF
the army. although they didn't think Il
would come so soon.
How did you know IT."
Just because he had II In him." Is the
unsatisfactory answer given in lieu Of q
detailed character analysis of the man.
Some can go q little further.
General March," said one brigadier.
always had the makings OF q chief Of
general staff In him because ne could
see the army as a whole. He was and In
a great artilleryman. The artillery Is his
special branch of tho service, but no
always has had interest and love to
spare for the infantry and cavalry and
engineers. He Is both a scientific spe-
cialist and an all round soldier"
The first time that General March
brought back something from abroad was
In 1904. when he returned from his post ~
ono Of the American military observers
assigned tso General Kuroki's army In the
Russo-Jspaness war. He was then .
eADeatn - artillery attached 20 h first