New-York tribune., 1918-02-11
General Staff Reorganized
Into Four Main Divisions
Assistants to Chief in Charge of Each Department. Will
Coordinate All War Activities, Including Executive
tactical, Supply Traffic and Operations


IS the statement issued by the Wal
Department.:
The Secretary of War has directed
the adJutant general of the army te
issue the following general order:
The chief of the general staff, with
the assistance of the War Council
created under General Orders No. 100
December 20, 1917, is the immediate
adviser of the Secretary of War upon
all matters relating to the military)cs IS
'aolshment. and is charged by the
Secretary of War with the planning
and development Of the army pro
gramme in its entirety. He exercises
such supervision and co0rdinatine
powers and secures such information
as his judgment may dictate, to the
end that the war policies of the Sec.
retary of War may be harmonious,
executed by the several corps, bureaus
and all other agencies of the militar,
establishment. and the army pro
grammc to its last detail be carried
out speedily and efficiently.
The planning Of the army pro.
gramme in its entirety, the constan,
development thereof in its larger as
poets and the relating to this pro
gramme of the general staff and the
entire army will be the duty of the
Chief of Staff and the War Council
Ihe burden upon the Chief Of Staff
the Assistant Chiefs of Staff and the
oificers forming the General Staff in
their duties in connection with the ad-
mlnistration of the army programme
by the military establishment has so
increased that it becomes immediate
~ necessary to organize the General
Staff into responsible divisions.
Five Main Divisions
accordingly the Chief Of Staff is
directed to organize The General Staff
INTO five main divisions under his di-
rect control and to attach to the Gen
cral staff such personnel, officers and
civilians that the work of the General
Staff may proceed. Each division shall
be under an officer who shall have full
power to act for the Secretary Of War
and the Chief of Staff upon all matters
charged to his division. Such divisions
and duties of each are as follows:
ONE--EXECTTIVE DIVISION
"Thts division shall take charge of
WIG O!INC VI tuc Aulbl VI 0luu uUUeI
an officer to be known as the executive
assistant to the Chief of Staff, who
shall be an assistant to the Chief of
staff. The executive assistant to the
Chief of Staff shall act for the Chief
of Staff or the acting Chief of Staff
during their respective absences. This
division shall have cognizance and
control of the following subjects:
"1) To supervise the organization,
administration and methods Of all dvi-
sions Of the General Staff and the sew
eral bureaus. corps and other agencies
of the War Department to the end that
all such matters may be comprohen-
sively treated and the activities Of all
such agencies may be co0rdinated,
duplication Of work avoided, harmoni-
Gus action secured, and all unneces-
sary machinery of organization and
administration eliminated.
"(2) The collection, compilation and
maintenance of all statistical informa
ton obtained from the several bureaus,
establishment both as to troops and
supplies, as we'll as all other stats
teal information obtained from out
side sources relating to the war pro-
gramme for transmission to the Secrc-
tary of War, the chief OF staff, the
War Council. the General Staff and
the several divisions thereof
"(3) Military intelligence concerning
espionage, counter espionage, fire pre-
vention and other matters thereto re-
lated.
"(D Requisitions and permits
"(5) Promotions and assignments.
"(6) The militia bureau and Federal
guards.
TWO-WAR PLANS DIVISION:
"This division shall undertake the
study Of and submit reports upon all
matters referred to it from time to
time by the chief of staff and shall be
in charge Of an officer designated as the
director of the var plans division.
"This officer will be an assistant to
the chief of staff and shall be president
of the War College and in charge OF
all activities at the War College. The
duties Of this division shall also in
clude the following matters:
"G) Plans for the organization OF
all branches Of the army
"(2) The study and determination OF
the types and the quantities of equip
ment for all branches of the army
and the approval of design and types
of equipment submitted by the several
bureaus; supervision Of research and
invention by the several bureaus OF
other agencies Of the military estab-
lishment in connection with equip
ment.
"(3) Projects for national defence
"(4) Training for all branches of
the army, the tactics and methods of
warfare to be employed, together with
all publications having relation there
to, and the supervision Of military
schools
"(5) Military intelligence, as re-
lated to army operations and the
translation and compilation of foreign
documents relating to military affairs
"(6) Collection, compilation anC
maintenance of complete military rec
ords.
"(7) Proposed legislation and the
preparation Of regulations and rules
for tho military establishment.
THREE PURCHASE AND SUPPLY
DIVISION
This division shall have cognizanco
of and supervision over the purchase
and production of all munitions and
other supplies required for the use of
the army under an officer designated
as the director OF purchases and sup
plies, who shall be an assistant to the
chief of staff. The dutcs.of this divi-
sion shall include the following mat
ter:
"(D The supervision and direction
o1 all purchase, procurement and pro-
duction activities of the several bu-
reaus, corps and other agencies Of the
War Department.