Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1918-03-17
GENERAL SCOTT
RELIEVED FROM
OLD COMMAND
Now in Charge of Er,barka-
ton Cantonrnent at Camp
Dix; VIII Not See Active
Service In France.
Rv Review Leased Wire,

| WASHINGTON, March L. Major
General Hugh L. Scott, formerly CHIEF
of staff, today was ordered relieved oi
mis- command of the seventy-eighth
| National Army division at Camp Dix
n. j., and placed in command of the
/ camp itself. which is to be made an
embarkation camp. Brigadier General
James T. Dean has been appointed
temporarily to command the 18th div.
ision.
No official reason for the order was
assigned General Scott came to
Washington this week for examination
~ the medical board appointed to de-
termine the fitness of officers to hold
commands on the fighting front in
France and he understood that he had
passed the test. Five other divisional
commanders had been relieved of their
commands earlier in the week because
hey failed to pass the physical exam
ination
Hard Blow to Scott
The general policy IN the war de-
partment not TO give fighting com
mands to officers who have reached
the retirement age in the belief that
when an officer has passed 62 years
he is not qualified for the arduous
duties which a command on the battle
front entails, is believed to be the rea-
son for the action taken General
Scott reached retirement age last Sep
tember %, on which date he relin
quished the post of chief of staff but
was called back into active service.
Friends of General Scott believed to-
night that the orders of the depart
ment must have come as a severe blow
to him as ever since the United State;
entered the war General Scott had
been hoping for an opportunity to com
mand an active division in the great
struggle. He welcomed his relief as
chief of staff because it opened the
way for his being recalled for active
service and assigned to division.
During his tour of inspection in France
which followed his return from Russia
where he saw the last offensive under
taken by the Russian army launched,
General Scott took every means to
prepare himself for a command on the
American sector.
Will Equip Troops
As commander at Camp Dix, Gener-
al Scott will head a supplemental EN-.
barkation cantonment. The quarter
masters corps has found it necessary
to have additional quarters available
for the handling of troops enroute to
the front as the process of sending
divisions forward is speeded up. All
divisions are re-equipped completely
with clothing and every other necessi-
ty at these embarkation cantonments
before they go aboard ship. II has
been understood that Camp Dix would
be used for this purpose when the sew
enty-eighth division now training
there has gone forward.
II lis intended to have General
Pershing return to this country in de-
tachments of thirty the officers who
in his opinion have assimilated the de-
tails of modern warfare from the az
tual association with front line opera
tiOns on the American sector.
To Exchange Officers
The first increment will be from the
officers who have been longest in
France. These will be replaced by an
equal number of officers trained here
in general staff work and interchange
of information would be established
between the department and the fight
ing forces which officials would deem
productive to smooth administration
Presumably. qualified officers of Cen
eral Pershing's staff who have been
wounded or otherwise incapacitated
for active duty at the front will be as
signed wherever possible to duty in
Washington during the period of re-
cuperation, their services and expert
ence thereby being of continuous value
to the government In this connection
it was learned that in accord with the
practice found desirable in Europe, in
capacitated officers will be gardually
placed in charge of all training units.
replacement divisions and other mill
tary agencies and in the UniHted
States which require the supervision
OF trained military men. That process
already has begun with the assign
ment of major generals physically un
/ fit for service in France to divisions
/ training in this country