The Washington times., 1920-08-21
BALTIMORE IS
|. ARMY CENTER
City Chosen as Permanent Base
OF Third Corps Under New
Organization.

Baltimore Is TO be the permanent
headquarters OF the Third Army
Corps and OF the corps areas includ-
ing Maryland. Virginia. the Dist OF
Columbia and Pennsylvania, according
to orders issued at the War Depart
ment by Secretary Baker abolishing
the old geographical divisions OF the
military establishment and creating
nine corps areas for the continental
United States
Maj. Gen. Adeibert Cronkite, now
on duty at Fort Monroe. Va. Will COM
mand the Third Corps. and Will pro-
ceed to Baltimore TO take charge OF
his end OF the army reorganization at
an early date. For the time being
General cronkhlte will occupy quar-
ters In Baltimore proper. Later he
will move with his staff TO Fort Nc
Henry, where the permanent head
quarters OF the Third Corps Will be.
Camp Meade. which Secretary OF
War Baker announced has been den-
nitely decided upon as one OF the per-
manent reservations OF the army. VIII
be the main military concentration
punt tnt niTu SOiPSt anu
the plans OF the General staff gigan-
tic maneuvers will be held there perl
odically. In these maneuvers will par
ticipate not only the regular army d.
visions In the Third Corps. but the
National Guard organizations OF the
States in this area and the military
reserve corps Of the four States in
cluded.
BIG-sCALE MANEUvERs.
These maneuvers, which will be on
scale never before attempted in peace
time by the American army. will IN
clude operations b. all branches OF
the service-infantry, cavalry, field
artillery, tank troops, aerial squad
rons and the various units or the
sanitary and supply troops. The de-
tails Of these maneuvers finally Will
be worked out after Congress has
definitely established the size OF the
army. In the meantime. however.
the general staff is at work on tenta-
tive plans.
The reorganization order becomes
effective September ].
Today's order which makes sweep
ing changes in the whole military
establishment OF the nation, places
Baltimore definitely on the military
map and will add a very consider
able military population to the city.
At this time Maryland Is in the
Eastern division of the army, which
has headquarters at Governors Island.
n. Y. All military works in the city
and State such as Fort McHenry.
Fort Howard. Camp Meade and the
war enterprises such as Holabird,
Aberdeen Proving Ground and Col
gaze reservation are technically under
the Jurisdiction OF the commanding
officer at Governors Island.
CITY CENTER OF AREA.
Under the reorganization scheme
these important works will be under
the command of the Third Corps COM
mander at Fort McHenry except such
as report directly to the general starr
in Washington. 1t was largely De-
cause of the Importance OF the mill
tary operations in and around Balti-
more that that city was selected in
stead of Philadelphia or Norfolk as
headquarters of the Third Corps.
Also Baltimore's geographical loca-
ton almost within the center OF the
corps area weighed with the War
in that connection.
Then again it is explained that Fort
McHenry, when it can be made avail
able for General Cronkhite and his
staff, is ideally suited for corps head
quarters, as it is not an active army
post. 1t was indicated today at the
War Department that probably II
would be five years before the corps
h headquarters move into the fort,
since the public health service has
been given jurisdiction over it for
that period in the care and treat
ment of war risk insurance patients.
Also 1t now seems certain that the
Fort will never again revert to the
the corps headquarters established
there. following it's surrender as n
hospital, it will probably be found
impracticable to turn it over to the
city for park purposes. Secretary
Baker, in discussing this today. de-
clared that the general staff, after
canvass of all available
points, had concluded that Fort Nc
Henry was the best suited for head
quarters of any place IN the Third
Corps area.
OTHER CORPS CENTERs.
The other corps territories and
headquarters, with the general Of
ficer commanding each follow:
First corps area-New' England
States, Major Gen. David c. Shanks,
nding; headquarters, Boston
Second corps area--New York, New
Jersey and Delaware; Major General
Robert L. Bullard. commanding, head
quarters Governors Island, n. Y.
Fourth corps area-North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkan-
sas and Louisiana; Major General
J ohm F. G.. Morrison, commanding.
headquarters at Charleston, 5. c., un-
til permanent headquarters at Fort
Ca, available. Fltth
corps area-Ohio, West Virginia, In
diana and Kentucky-Majojr General
George l.. Reed. commanding; head
quarters Fort Benjamin Harrison,
Ind. Sixth corps area-Illinois. Michi-
gan and Wisconsin,; Major General
Leonard Wood, commanding: head
quarters Fort Sheridan, III. Seventh
corps area--Missouri, Kansas, Iowa,
Minnesota, North Dakota,
South Dakota; Major General Omar
Bundy, commanding; headquarters
Fort Crook, Neb. Eighth corps area
Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New
Mexico and Arizona; Major General
Joseph Dickman, commanding head
quarters, Fort Sam Houston, Tex.
Ninth corps area-Washington, Ore
pou Idaho Mnntanna. wyoming,