Evening star., 1918-08-18

eide upon the larger questions for
which he alone Ii responsible. This
or great army (and war is merely
a very great business). Is secured by
means Of a properly organised stan,
whose members must be trained IN
the same conceptions, must be Inn.
bued with the ideas of their CHIEF,
confidence must be the basis Of stan
organization.
In all military establishments there
are conflicting interests. Each de-
partment. as 1t strives to attain the
best results as 1t sees them. Is likely
other department animated by the
same worthy intention. Only limit
ed amount Of money, men and ma
terial is usually obtainable, and the
demands OF all cannot be fully satis-
ned. 1t Is one Of the most important
apportioning available resources
among these claimants and to au-
thoritatively establish the order OF
priority among them in such a way as
best to accomplish the results which
the war secretary or general may
have in mind.
The stan is the repository Of its
chiefs intentions, and its members.
having consulted his confidence and
knowing his plans. must. in his name
and frequently without consulting
him, give decisions which will ac-
complfsh his purposes. II stan omcers
consult their chief on all matters ne
no longer has a stan but only clerks.
Now. this high function Of co-ordina-
tion which belongs to the chief OF
staff and his assistants implies au-
thority, emanating from one source.
converging to 1t.
And that is the present weakness.
Army officers say. of our organization.
Our chief of stan has never been
frankly and openly accorded the pow
er necessary to fulfill the functions
for which his Office, with its organ
lied assistance. was created; THIS
power. this right to command in the
Secretary's name, which in the French
and German armies is SO clearly ex-
pressed and fully acceded to, is i'm
piled in phrases such as "co-ordinat-
ing functions" etc. but there has ex-
listed. and there still seems to exist.
a shrinking from saying quite boldly
that under the Secretary of War. the
chief of staff commands the Army and
has ali the power and responsibility
which this situation implies.
Upon the rupture of diplomatic re-
lations with Germany the United
states forest
War Work of the service began to
plan for. meeting
ties which. il war followed, it should
assume These included the render
ing of emergency assistance in spe-
cial patrol duties in the national for
est regions. particularly in the pro-
lection of public works and transpor-
tation lines; the gathering Of mill
tary reconnaissance information val
uable to the War Department: the re-
lease for war service of such portion
of its personnel as might have to be
spared for military service. either as
volunteers or under draft: and the
rendering of advice or assistance to
the War or Navy departments and to
manufacturers. in matters relating to
the supply of materials derived from
the forests and required for war pur-
poses.
wood and other forest products
have almost innumerab1e uses in mod
ern warfare. Never before have re-
quirements been SO exacting nor has
the demand for exact knowledge of
the properties of wood. mechanical.
physical and chemical methods Of con-
So
construction. and for specifica tions
based upon scientific tests. been SO ur
gent. A very large part of all the
technical data secured during the re-
search work on wood. initiated by the
government approximately twenty
Ave years ago. finds Immediate and
important application in some war
problem.
The first step taken was to ascertain
the qualifications of all male employees
for various classes Of service and to
work out for each national forest and
district office the possible readjust-
ments Of personnel and modification
of activities which could be made in
case of necessity. whereby men and
funds could be set free for war needs
less important in times of war than
in peace. Obviously. provision for the
continued use of timber and forage
resources of the forests and for their
protection against fre could not be
abandoned. but. on the contrary. would
ditions than in ordinary times.
Through careful foresight the forest
service made itself prepared. so that
all demands upon 1t were met as they
arose. The entrance of a considerab BILE
number of men into military service
of the administrative and protective
force. Upon request of the War De-
partment the preliminaries of recruit
ing and differing the 10th Engineers
(Fores) were handled. Increase of
crop production in and near the for
ests was st AuIated and forage re-
sources OF the forests were made avail
able for emergency use up to the linn
it of safety.
War savings stamps were not issued
by the government as an investment
for the rich.
W. S. S. as Poor Mans They are in
War Investment. neon1. ~ LOT OF
small means primarily. although ev-
cry one is asked to purchase. They
are more intended, however. to bring
within the reach of every one in the
United States the opportunity of in
vesting in the obligations of the
United States government upon terms
unusually advantageous to the in
vestor. and to encourage every one
to save his money and lend it to the
government.
This plan offers the most direct
incentive to economize and save ever
offered to the people Of the country,
according to financial experts of the
Treasury Department who are in
charge of the war savings stamp
L L. Ank la