Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15

oversee and. Il need be. compel ex.
ecution; and especially they must
insure cooperation when several sx-
ecutants work to the same end. In
every modern army. including our
own: this duty lies with the general
agents needed for this latter func-
ton and having the three things re-
quired to perform it--vix.: ~ . spe-
cial knowledge. (2) time and (Sl
prestige and authority-are lacking:
and in our country alone there exists
q certain confusion Of ideas a. to
the field and method OF action, re.
spectively. of the deciding agents and
the executing agents. o.,
Also the word "admtnistration,
where 1t begins and leaves on ana
who is charged with 1t. has at times
become a yeritable bugbear, and eff
fort is constantly made to draw
sharp line between "admtnistratlon
and s'comfnand." Ohicials at the war
Department feel that this should De
cleared up. The person VINO COM l.,
mands, whether in military or c msn
not himself do the various Things
pertaining to details of adminns s..ish
ton, but he gives the orders WhIc1
govern the persons directly cnarsso
with administering, and SO ne ls RS
sponsible for administration anu
The experts who are most interesteo
in having these matters cleared up
point out that nobody would DENY that
a post commander administers as wei
as commands his post; the Iact .na.
he does it through agencies such ~
adiutant in no way alters the essen
tial idea. These officers 40 not au u
minister the post. but are the aken.e
of administration, subject to the OF
ders of the responsible head VINO COIL
mands and administers.
When we come to the Army as
whole the same principle apples.
There is no reason why 1t snouia nos
apply, and it is well for the avoidance
of all confusion or possible ulsputSS
that it should be clearly unoers.oo"
in all quarters that 1t does Apply.
If War is charged with the command
and hence the administration. OF the
Army, There is, in the opinion OF th IN
officials, equally no doubt tnat .ne
chief Of staff, as the organ OF com,
mnnd of the Secretary, is as Hu ~. =
responsible. under ms Sc ora armv as for
anU other element pertaining TO lts
cnmmand. He does not and conld no.
nerforn1 these functions directly any
more than the Secretary could. =. ne
does 1t through agents sucn as ere
chief of coast artillery. the aanera1
master general. the surgeon genera era
ams others. and he has the least pos
sihie reason for interfering WIN .n n,,
datai,s nv which these omcers carIy
on the;r special work. This Woulo
absorb his time and seriously h;n,,
fere with his highest functlos: w. of
is the co-ordination Of the EFFORTS e o.
the sme officers toward one on1ect'
namely. the maintenance and opera
t;om ~ an efficient fighting force.
The fourth liberty loan drive VIII
sow he with us. Of1cials of the Treas
ury Department who are mos.
Fourth interested in this work po.n'
out how easy 1t is to visualize
LOAN. the course Of dollar saVeo
from waste and invested IN govern
ment bonds; first, it goes to the gov
eminent as a. loan for the war; Sec
ond it is expended by the govern
ment for food. clothing, and aHmu-
milton which go directly to a soioier
or sailor, whose fighting strength Is
kent I'D by the food. whose body IL
kent warm by the clothing, and whose
enemy is hit by the ammunltloh. II
has not been expended in the pur-
chase of needless food or clothing Tor
the man at home. and Is, therefore,
released for the use OF the SOLDIER
, and "a saved wealth to the man at
home and can be loaned to his gov
eminent at interest, with resulting
benefit to himself and to his govern
ment.
eminent bond. and Is advertised az !
| If he Immediately sells that bond or
] the market when he does not impera.
| lively need the money. 1t Is MOI
| mere subscription to bond that helps
! the government; it is the actual pur,
chase of the bond and the keeping Of
the bond that really helps. The peo'
pIe must save and invest in govern
ment bonds, the officials say. 1t is by
actually lending money to the gov
| eminent and not by merely promising
it and shifting the load to some one
else that the citizen really helps n
this great time II loans are made
to the government and bonds are
| taken therefor the lender Is sup
| posed to deny himself something
| which releases, in turn, demand or
| the vital supplies or stores OF tbs
! country and puts the government In
f! position to buy the supplies thus re-
| leased and to furnish them to oul
armies and navies. But If the lender
| Immediately sells his bonds. relieves
| himself of the obligation to save vi
tai supplies. and goes on Wastlne
! them. he does his country a. grievous
! injury and hurts himself as well.
| The Treasury Department officials
make it very clear that there is nc
desire on the part of the government,
| to prevent or to interfere with free
/ 10 k.a fp% I'm.
ment bonds-that is. trading in gooe
J faith.
! 1t must be realized that the govern
! ment's credit is vital to the success
| Of the war; that it underlies every
activity. It is sacred duty of every
| citizen, and it should be regarded
as glorious privilege by every pa
| triot. to uphold the government'f
| credit with the same kind of self.
| sacrifice and nobility that our gal
| liant sons exhibit when they die fol
| US on the battlefelds of Europe. II
| ernment's credit as it is to sustain
our armies. because our armies can.
not be sustained unless the govern.
ment's credit is always above re-
proach.
Liberty loan officials are convinced
try should be permitted to readjust
If situation should develop where
the government could not sell con
vertible and partly tax-exempt bonds
upon a Az per cent basis. it is be.
lieved, that it would become neces'
sary to seriously consider further
revenue legislation than that now
| before Congress. In the judgment Of
| the Treasury officials. an increase IL
the rate of interest on such bonds
| would be extremely unwise and hurt.
full. The higher the rate of Interest
on government bonds the greater tht
! cost to the American people of car.
| rying the war and the greater will
| be the depreciation in all other form.
| of Investment securities. Declines il