Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-12
sSHING HEADS.
RST BOARD TO
YREMAKE ARMY
Officers to Be Listed as to Fit
ness for General Staff
Duty.
PROMOTE BY SENIORITY

WASHINGTON, June 12.-First steps
toward the reorganization Of the army
under the law passed at the recent ses-
sion Of congress were taken by Secre-
tary of War Baker when he announce:
the appointment of four boards to meet
next week to prepare classiAcations OF
officers. The boards are:
First, presided over by Gen. Pershing,
20 make an initial list of officers fitted
for general staff duty.
The qualifications for a place on the
IA are: Graduation from the AMY staff
esf1ege or the army college prior to
frtx 1. 1917, and recommendation for
duly as commander or chief Of STAFF OF
A division or higher tactical unit, or for
dSsail on q general staff; command since
July 6, 1917, of a division or higher tao
gs&l unit, fitness shown during actual
<fesrvice in the world war.
BULLARD HEADS
THE NEXT BOARD.
Second, headed by Lieut.. Gen. Robert
L. Billiard, will classify officers TO be
retained and those who should be
dropped.
Officers designated for discharge will
be given an opportunity to appear be,
fore a board Of inquiry.
Third, headed by Lieut.. Gen. Hunter
Liggett, Will prepare an eligible list for
brigadier generals from among colonies
Of the line and other officers OF not
less than twenty-five years commits
stoned service in the line.
Fourth, headed by Col. Walter H.
Gordon, will prepare lists for promotion
from among all officers of engineers,
signal corps, infantry, cavalry, field
artillery, Porto Rico regiment and Phil
ippine scouts, who were appointed to the
regular army or the Philippine scouts
prior to April g. 1917.
Seniority will be the basis Of the list,
and those at the top will be promoted
first as vacancies occur
This IS as recommended by Gen.
Pershing IN lieu OF the old separate pro-
motion lists for each branch OF the
service.
Secretary Baker also replied to the
letter Of Gen. John J. Pershing which
expressed the latter's desire TO retire
from active military duties.
CERTAIN PRESIDENT
WILL MEET WISHES.
The secretary said he felt sure the
president would meet his wishes when
ever expressed.
The secretary's letter follows:
81 have received your letter OF June
Z with regard to the possibility Of your
relinquishing military duty within the
next few months. I am happy to note
that you are planning to aid US in the
reorganization contemplated by the re
cent act Of congress, the Importance Of
which, OF course, is very great. In this
work your knowledge Of the qualihea-
lions OF officers will be Indispensable,
and as the single list for promotion is u
project which you earnestly recommend
to congress it will help US all to have
your aid in instituting IT.
>SKour military life has been active and
exacting; your services to the country
cntitle you to choose with the utmost
freedom the activities and interests to
which you should devote your time, and
should you adhere to your present wish
to retire I feel quite sure the president
will meet your wishes whenever ex-
pressed.
Both the country and the president
will know that should any emergency
arise after you have retired your coun-
try's call will find you ready to re-
spond."
Two hundred thousand officers Of the
world war. now civilians, are eligible for
examinat ton for commission in the reg
ular army if they make application be-
fore June %. the war department an
nounced today.
So far only 1900 applications are on
file.