Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-11


of the various divisions, would enable
Secretary Baker to appoint men of
demonstrated business ability to di-
rect the departments, and it was
held the order carries the plan re-
ferred to by the President in his
reply to Senator Chamberlain, OF
Oregon, when he said a reorganiza-
tion by experts was in progress.
The duties of these divisions are
thus outlined by Secretary Bakers
orders:
First Executive division. This
first step in Secretary Bakers pro-
gram.
Under the new order the general
staff corps is divided into five divi-
sions-the executive, war plane, pur-
chase and supply, storage and traffic
and Army operations. Secretary
Baker said the names of the Off
GERS to head these divisions would
not be announced for several days.
Is Most Sweeping Change
The manner in which the chiefs
OF these divisions are to take over the
management of the numerous bu-
reaus of the War Department makes
the changes announced by Mr.. Baker
appear as the most sweeping ever
undertaken by any Secretary since
INC present SySLeIH was SldIlSus
1t was held that the reorganiza-
ton, with responsible heads for each
division shall take charge of the
Office of the chief-of-staff under an
officer to be known as the executive
assistant to the chief of-staff, who
shall be an assistant to the chief-of-
staff. The executive assistant to the
chief-of-staff shall act for the chief
of-staff or the acting chief-of-staff
during their respective absence. This
division shall have cognizance and
control of the following subjects:
"G) To supervise the organiza-
tion, administration and methods OF
all divisions of the general staff and
the several bureaus, corps and other
agencies of the War Department, to
the end that all such matters may
be comprehensively treated and the
activities of all such agencies may
be co-ordinated, duplication of work
avoided, harmonious action secured
and all unnecessary machinery of or
ganization and administration elimi-
mated.
"(2) The collection, compilation
and maintenance of all statistical in
formation obtained from the several
bureaus, corps or other agencies of
the military establishment both as
to troops and supplies, as we'll as
all other statistical information OBJ
tanned from outside sources relating
to the war program for transmits
sion to the Secretary of War, the
chief-of-staff, the war council, the
general staff and the several divi-
sions thereof.
"(S) Military intelligence concern
ing espionage, counter espionage,
fire prevention and other matters
thereto related.
"(D Requisitions and permits.
"(5) Promotions and assignments.
"(6) The militia. bureau and Fed
eral guard.
Second. War Plans Division:
This division shall undertake the
study of and submit reports upon all
matters referred to it from time to
time by the chief of staff, and shall
be in charge of an officer designated
as the director of the war plans di-
vision. This officer will be an as
sistant to the chief of staff and shall
be president of the war college and
in charge of all activities at the war
college. The duties of this division
shall also include the following mat
ters
First. Plans for the reorganiza-
ton of all branches of the Army.
Second. The study and deter
mination of the types and the
quantities of equipment for all
branches of the Army, and the APP
proval of design and types of equip
ment submitted by the several bu-
reaus; supervision of research and
invention by the several bureaus oil
other agencies of the military estao-
lishment in connection with equip
ment.
"(S) Projects for national defense.
go Training for all branches OF
the Army, the tactics and methods
of warfare to be employed. together
with all publications having relation
thereto. and the supervision OF mill
tary schools.
"(5) Military intelligence as relat-
ed to Army operations and the trans
lation and compilation of foreign
documents relating to military af-
fairs.
"(6) Collection, compilation and
maintenance of complete military
records.
"(7) Proposed legislation and the
preparation of regulations and rules
for the military establishment.
Provides For Array supply
Third. Purchase of Supply Divi-
sion: This division shall have cog
nizance of and supervision over the
purchase and production of all mu-
nitions and other supplies required
for the use of the Army under an
officer designated as the director OF
purchases and supplies. who shall be
an assistant to the chief of stan,