The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-02-03
NEW HEAD FOR
GENERALSTAFF
March's First Duty Will BE TO
Speed Up Army
Activities.
HIS SUCCESS IN FRANCE
Man of Quick DecisiOns-Bliss
to Remain on Supreme
War Council.
Is SUCCESS IN FRANCE

wAsHISGroN, Feb. o.-Speedlmg up OF
General stan activities is expected TO
follow the appointment OF Mator-Gen.
Peyton c. March as acting chief of
staff Of the army. announcement o;
vhch depends only on advires from
Gen. Pershing that the officer can bs
spared from his duties as chief o. artN-
lery Of the expedlt!onary forces.
Secretary baker would not discuss his
plans to-day. but It is known that he has
determined upon Gen. March as the
most suitable officer to take over tho
work Of this important pos;. iea. Bliss,
the stan chief. will remain in France
As the permanent representative of the
United states on the Supreme Wa
Council, which determines policies TO be
carried out on the virious fronts.
Officers and civilians who have re-
turned recently from France have
brought back word Of the impression thai
Gen. March has created by the energ,
and skill displayed In organisation OF
his own branch OF the service under Gen
Pershins. Pr!vat. message" from,
France have indicated that The. Ahstti.
can comm nder approves The selection
and. viii njt bloc:: Den, MArchs appoint.
men:. but 20 fag RS Ly knosn no oelria
reply l'as come from Gen. Pe"sh,Hg.
Ills War Experience.
After many months Of close cortac
with the fighting fronts IN France Gen
March will he able TO pu; into his tasi
AZ head of tie army all the knowledge
he had acquired as to modern warfare
"a t,.-l 4 Go s,fNi. Tn, J..
man of quick decisions. a quality re
galded as vita! In "A successful chief o.
S.afT Upon tha; official rests the bur
den OF seeing ~ /; that the various bu
reaus OF the De partment as well as tn
! line of tine army. work out their prob
| lens In harmony
! During the time Gen. Bliss and hi
predecessor. Majo,-tien. Hugh l.. Scott
were absent on foreign missions ther'
has been Il tendency FOR important pa
pen, to become clogged in the Genera
stan office. l, has been difficult to ge
! hnal decision on even urgent questions
as the officers acting were said to be hes
! liant about going outside any policy lai'
| down by the actual Chief.
! Gen. March will no. be SO hanpercd
; His appointment as acting Chief carrie
! with IL as much weight as II he were a.
! tua!ly chief Of STAN. and his pohcie
viii! b. his own. Officers who know hin
say he will not hesitate TO assert him
! self and take control of the situaticH,
Gen. March's Record.
! Gen. March is 50 years old and wa
! born IN Pennsylvania. from which Stat
he went 10 the United States Mil'tar,
Academy He has been attached to th'
artillery branch continuously with th
exception 0. duty as Major and later a
! Lieutenant Colonel OF volunteer infantr.
| In lsa9-l90l for Philippine service
/ Gen. March commanded the Astor bat
| terry in the Spanish American war. II
: was graduated from the artillery schoo
with high marks in 1898 and served o.
the General Stan from 1903 to 1905
During the Russo-Japapcse war he wa
military observer FOR the Cr!.cl State
| Army with the Japanese troops.
g The qualifications of Gen. March 70
4 duties have been highly spoken OF h.
! officers of Gen. Pershines stan. Secre
! tary Baker Is known 20 have realize,
q, for some time the urgen: necessity o
putting a young and vigorous man \
1 the head of the staff to coordinate al
! the military branches Of the army. Sew
eral Of the general officers have bee
discussed for the post. but the decision
to name Gen. March was reached onl
/ within the last few days
Major-Gen. John Bldd.., assis,an
/ chief OF staff AND now acting chief il
the absence o! Ger. I:liss. viii continu
as assistant so far rs IL kuowu.