Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-19
BARNETT removed
. AS MARINES HEAD.
Daniels Drops Major General as
Leader Of Sea Soldiers In
g.. Surprise Order
LEJEUNE TO. GET PLACE

,.,or conerel George Barnett, COM
ndont of the magine corps, formerly
mat;onoJ manuJ at the Philadelphia Navy
Ys.d has been removed by Secretary
of the Navy Daniels. ,,
oi Tho r only reason given is the Wash
;.rton report that Secretary Daniels
nanted man who saw active service IN
Trance as the commandant. Major
General John A. Leieune<has been ap-
nointed to the position.
The removal Of General Barnett came
after Secretary Daniels visited fresl-
dont Wilson. 1t was q surprise, as
Hwnnorol Barnett has distinguished
,ocord. His term did not expire until
February I, 1922.
General Barnett was colonel In
tho marine corps stationed Mt League
Island when made commandant of that
arsanizotion in 1914. He is generally
recopnized as one of the most efficient
officers in the corps and has gained the
nickname of daddy of the new ma
rines.
During and following the war he was
a stormy petrel of several Congressional
Investigations. Efforts to promote him
70 lieutenant generalship failed. The
fight against him was waged on the
around that he was a swivel chair
, hero" and never saw service in France.
The general had conference today
with Secretary of the Navy Daniels.
following which he was approached for
comment on the latter's action.
~ am sorry cannot discuss the mat
ter" he said. =.
"I am under orders" he added,
which seemed to pass the buck to the
HE ,opnarka gidnrpH
significant, yet Secretary Daniels de-
clared, the change had been contem-
plated for some time, being in line with
The policy of his department to reward
officers by promotion, for services rem
dered.
General Lejeune commanded the ia
nous Second Division when it broke
the German line in the Meuse -Argonne
offensive and the secretary said his ap-
pontment to command the marine corps
was in line with the policy Of the de-
partment to reward the officers who
served with distinction during the war.
General Lejeune will take charge of the
corps next week.
Mr.. Daniels said General Barnett had
served more than six years as com
mander of the Marine Corps and that
his reappontment two years ago was
for a term of four years or at the pleas
ure Of the President
Barnett May Retire
lie explained General Barnett could
elect to be retired with the rank of
major general or continue to serve in
the CORPS with the rank of brigadier
general. General Barnett has not yet
decided as to this.
Mr.. Daniels said General Lejeune
was regarded as not only one Of the
nblcst officers of the Marine Corps. but
one Of the most distinguished soldiers
o. the late war. He commanded the
Second Division not only in the Meuse-
Argonne offensive, but also at st. Mi
hipl and Mont Blanc Ridge.
The secretary said he had decided
after the end of the war to make Gen
cral Icjeune commandant of the Ma
rine Corps, but the appointment was
held in allegiance because General Bar
nett was then engaged in making up
the estimates of the Marine Corps for
the next fiscal year.
General Barnett is a graduate Of the
Naval Academy. to which institution he
was appointed from Wisconsin id 1877.
He reached the grade of colonel in 1910.
He has had service in Cuba, Panama.
the Philippines, with the legation guard
at Pckin. China, and on numerous
cruises with the Atlantic fleet. He
commanded an expeditionary force of
marines in Cuba in 1906, and, in fact,
was the first officer in command of
troops that landed in the island to
form the army of Cuban pacitcation.
His record was uniformly excellent all
through his military career.
Mrs. Barnett is we'll known in Phil
adelphia. During the years General
Barnett was stationed here she was
much interested in social affairs.
Secretary Daniels said the appoint
ment of General LeJeune was in no
way reflection upon General 1>arnett
who, he said, had served with distine-
ton and was q splendid officer