Evening star., 1920-11-25
CHARGE FAV0R|TES
GOT ARMY .'PLUMS'
War in Congress Brewing
Over Forthcoming List
of Nominations.

Rumblings Of discomfort in military
circlee promise "a merry war in Con-
gress when the President sends; in the
nominations of Army officers recently
promoted under the provisions OF tEe
AfWy sfeorggrization law There y
ion among high-ranktng A<Ry oni-
GERS and their respective sadherents
outside of the service as to the JUS
tice and propriety Of some Of the
pryMotions, particularly thSas AF sehe
=. n.sppr .kpprosimatsiy as 1s,eee nornfnatfons
are to be made. including about 1000
aph6fntinents to newly created sp0Ai-
tions. Most of the others are simple
promotions or transfers from one
branch Of the Army to another, due
to the recent reorganization.
Say Pershing Picked Friends.
All sorts of charges and insinua-
tions have been made as to alleged
favoritism for some officers and dis
crimination against others in the
The bitterest conflict. however. seems
to have arisen over the promotion OF
thirty four new general officers. All
were chosen by selection, with the
result that many young officers were
jumped over their seniors in age and
service.
Gen. John J. Pershing is chairman Of
the Superior board" which took final
action in recommending officers below
the grade Of colonel for advancement
and It has been alleged that he provided
for the promotion Of many young Off
GERS who were with him in France. Of
ficers who have insinuated that Gen.
Pershing favored his own military as
sociates in making the advaneements
intimated also that a share Of the pro-
motions went to friends and favorites Of
Mai. Gen. Peyton c. March. chief Of
staff, including several of his principal
assistants at the War Department
Friends Of both Gen. Pershing and Gen.
March Indignantly repudiate these In
situations, adding that they are too
ridiculous and insulting for serious con-
s:deration. To that, the critics say that
an inspection of the list OF promotions
will show what basis, II any. there is
in the charges of favoritism
List Of Generals Named.
The general officers whose nominations
will be- submitted to the Senate are:
Major generals-James w. Mean
drew, John l.. Hines. Adelbert Cronk-
hite, William M. Wright. Henry Z.
Allen, George w. Read. Charles H.
Muir, William G. Haan, David G.
Shanks, Omar Bundy, Charles T. Me-
noher.
ter. Grote Hutcheson. Ulysses g. Nc
Alexander, Fred w. Sladen, Dwight
10, Aultman, William u. Connor, Rob-
ert c. Davis. William Lassiter, Walter
H. Gordon. Mark L. Hcrsey. Harry H.
nor, William r. Smith. Ernest Kinds.
Dennic f. Nolan, NJ. H: Craig:
All the major generals named above
were promoted over the head or Gen
Clarence II. Edwards. who command
ed a Ncv England division in the field
during the war and who stood at the
head Of the regular list Of brigadiers.
The selection of Lieut.. Coils. Hugh A.
brisadiers also has beer criticised on
the ground that they had not com-
pieted the required twenty-five years.
seryi..e at the time of their selection.
President Picked Generals.
In defense Of the promotions made it
is shown that most of the new younger
brigadiers were among the most bril-
liant and efficient officers developed by
the world war. men who had made good
in positions Of high administrative re-
soonsibility or in important commands
in the field. Notwithstanding and
nevertheless there is considerable fault
finding and criticism of the appoint
GERS passed by"
Secretary Baker today said he did not
care to discuss the reports of discon-
tent, except to say that Gen. Pershing
had nothing TO 90 Win the selections OF
the new general officers. The President
himself selected the new major generals
from the Army at large. said Mr.. Baker,
and hesalso appointed the brigadier gen.
erals, but in doing that he made the
selections from general list Of eligibles
Summerali, Dickman and Harbord. He
thcugft It due also to the officers af-
fected to say that all the new major
generals commended corps during the
warld war, Gen. shanks on this side