Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-11
GENERAL STAFF OF
ARMY SHAKEN Up
BY BAKERS ORDERS
FIVE MAIN DIVISIONS ARE TO
UNDERGO REORGANIZATION -
EACH WILL BE UNDER AN
ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF.

Washington. Feb, IA general re-
organization of the general stan Of
the army was announced by the War
Department today
The new plan provides for i,e mas8
divisions.
Each division will be under an
assistant chief of staff. The chief
of staff and the war council are TO CO.
operate in the general administrative
duties of the general staff.
The changes have been under con
sideration by Secretary Baker for sew
eral weeks. The secretary stated
that a reorganization of the depart
ment was in progress on his first au-
pearance before the Senate military
affairs committee Re-orsaniatilE of
several of the bureaus and other I'M
portant Improvements preceded the
general staff alterations
The names OF officers who are 20
occupy the positions provided for in
the new scheme We're not given on.
Edward r Stettinius. recently ap-
pointed surveyor general of supplies
comes under the third or purchase
and surnly division
The general reorganization Of the
staff is viewed in some quarters as a
result Of the congressional agitation
for a war cabinet and munitions d.
rector At the War Department it is
declared to be a natural outgr0wih
Of the rapid development OF the WI;
program There were about forty
five members of the general staff when
war was declared. This number was
increased Immediately and now Is
about eighty Most OF the present
members are in France.
The official announcement Of he
reorganization says
me burden upon the chief Of stan
the assistant chiefs of staff, and the
officers forming the general staff in
their duties in connection with the adj
of the army program by
the military establishment has 50 in
creased that il becomes Immediately
ecessary TO organize the general
s'aff into responsible divisions"
: The chief of the general staff. with
the assistance of the war council is
TO be tho immediate advisor Of the
Secretary O. War He and the war
council are charged with the Diau-
ring and development of the AMY
program in lis entirety
The chief of staff is to supervise
and co ordinate. The constant dovel.
"pment G. the army program and he
relating Of this program to the rem
sral staff and the entire army will be
the duty Of the chief of staff and ne
var council
charge OF each division shall have
full power to act for the Secretary
Of War and chief of staff upon all !
matters charged to his division. The c
i've divisions are designated as eX- ]
ecntiye, war plans, purchase and SUP
ply, storage and traffic and army OBJ
3rations
The chiefs of the several bureaus
'orps and other agencies Of the mill
AIRY establishment are placed direct,
y under the general staff
The executive division is to have
'haree Of the Office of chief OF staff
lnder an officer to be known as the
Executive assistant He shall act iol
he chief Of staff during his absence :
This division will supervise the or.
sanizati0n administration and meth.
DDS OF all divisions Of the general
taif and the several bureaus. corDs
md other agences OF the military e.
Statistics. military intelligence. re-
lutsitions and permits, promotions
md assignments. and the militia bu-
eaus and federal guards also came
lndor this division
The war plans division will be in
.harge of director of war plans. who
vii also be president of the war
ollege.
The duties OF this division include. :,
Plans for the organization Of all ;
Of the army.
Study and determination of the
ypes and quantities Of equipment
md approval OF design and types of
supervision Of research 4
md invention in connection with
Projects Tor national defense.
4-Trainng tor all branches Of the
rmy, tactics and methods of warfare
0 be employed. and supervision of
Military schools
Military intelligence as related \
. army operations.
Military records =
Proposed legislation and prep.
ration OF regulations and rules for
he military establishment.