The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-13
Government Plans to Appoint
Real Chief to Direct All
Operations in War
GIVES NEW DETAILS
In CHANGING OVER
STAFF MACHINERY
Outlines Workings of System.
Qy1rtermaster-General Geo.
w. Goethals to Have Charge
of Storage and Traffic

Washington, Feb. IA supreme
director Of operations ia to he created
for the American army.
Announcement of this Is made to-
night in a statement Issued by the
war department In explanation of the
recent reorganization OF the general
staff into five divisions,
Under the reorganization plan"
the statement reads, n permanent d.
rector OF operations is to he named.
This officer Will direct the operations
Of ali branches of the army, includ-
ing tank and gas service. recruiting.
mobilization, movements and distri-
button OF troops. construction plans
and projects, assignment OF equip
ment. overseas priority. decision as to
camp sites. cantonments and posts and
personnel At present Brigadier-
General H Jervey is acting for the
general staff in this capacity.
There is also to he appointed a
permanent executive assistant to the
chief OF staff. who will direct milf
tary intelligence, administration and
control acquisitions and permits. pro-
motions and assignments, translation
and competition, fire prevention, and
other administrative matters.
This work is now in charge OF
Brigadier-General w, S. Graves, Of
the general staff.
Discussing the general reorganizH-
ton. the statement says, in part:
Five General Divisions.
The general staff is to operate
through five main administrative di-
visions. each division being directed
by a military officer with powers ~
act for the secretary Of war ana the
chief OF staff in matters within the
Jurisdiction of that division
instance. should require 90 600 shells.
the procedure would he consultation
with the surveyor of purchases aud
supplies to ascertain with whom the
order should be placed and when de-
liveries might be expected. The ord
nance department then would pro-
coed to purchase the shells. AS II has
heretofore, and would draft and exc
cute a contract for the material Re
fore final ratification this contract
would pass through the hands Of
rigader- General Pierce, director %
purchases and supplies The actual
details OF the purchase however,
would he handled by the ordnance de-
partment. and in the ma jority Of in
stances the signed contract would be
placed before the director Of supplies
and purchases for final wise.
The same system Will prevail In
the IetUng or contracts foF other ma
terlals needed--army clothes, shoes.
drugs, uniforms, food. etc
Coordination and System.
ut is planned that under this s~s-
tenn there shall be coordination, sys-
tenn and overhead regulation in the
letting OF contracts by the purchasirs
branches. signal. medical, engin GERS,
qusrtermaster and engineer
In addition to this duty. as qtar-
termaster general, ior G e n era1
George W. Goethals will act as direc-
tor of Storage and traffic. In this
larger capacity General Goethals will
direct priorities or storage and VIZ
traffic in the United States, the I'M
barkation OF supplies and troops, In
land war transportation and storage
at inland points. embarkation ana
overseas points.
'Tn exercising these duties General
Goethais must work in conjunction
with the shipping board. the director
general OF railroads and the several
supply bureaus. He will, Of course.
maintain cooperative relations with
the overhead division Of purchases
and supplies. headed by General
Pierce. which furnishes the supplies
for storage or traffic
gax~maJnue g.