The Washington times., 1921-06-12
IF CARPENTERS WILL BRING CHAOS in BUILDING REALM
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AT FURORE CAUSED
OVER HIS SPEECH
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for authority among certain ranking
officers as II exists at present Is up-
precedented, as the Menoher-Mitcheli
split and the Denby-Sims controversy
come at the same time. All con-
cerrred are among the highest In their
respective services. and coming at the
outset of a new national administra-
ton. IL is considered probable thut
astic action will be taken In order
that the insubordination does not De-
come epidemic and spread TO lower
grades and even to the ranks them
selves.
ALL ARE FIGHTERS.
What adds spice to the crisis IL
that every one Of the principals Is
a fighter who has been thoroughly
schooled in the necessity OF disci-
pIine and subordination OF self 10
service. Four years as a midship-
man and later as naval ofncer
was Secretary Weeks bit. Admiral
Sims served four years In the acad-
envy on the Severn and Is one OF
the Oldest officers In the navy. Sec
rotary DENLY came up through the
ranks as a private in the marine
corps. being commissioned. while
both Menoher and Mitchell are gem
eral officers with distinguished rec
ords in France to their credit.
While things at the Navy Depart
ment have been relatively quiet since
Secretary DENLY has been In charge.
II is no breach Of a secret to say that
there has been a feeling OF distinct
expectancy In certain quarters at the
War Department since March :.
tsyx.l Il nnntIla r
with those with whom he has come
In contact. there have been many
disagreeabie Issues Of vital import
ance inherited from the Baker re-
gime.
In attempting to forecast the prob
able successor of General March as
chief of staff, practically every eligi-
BILE general was mentioned and when
General Pershing was named to head
the newly conceived "war stair the
guessing was increased. Pershing
was chosen for the dual role and the
question of what TO do with March
then presented itself. While the mat
ter OF the chief OF staff was being
debated, Secretary Weeks. switched
tho names OF the general officers.
nominating Gen. Clarence Edwards
to lead the list OF the new major gem
erals. General Edwards lost his COM
mand OF the New England Division
while serving under Pershing IN
France, SO further auizzing developed.
MUST SHOW EFFICIENCY.
But the regulation that affected
every man on the commissioned per-
sonnet was the plainly worded order
last week from Secretary Weeks d.
ractfpa all onrn. oor,ypo N dar. ~ /,
every officer. from lieutenant to gen
eral. must demonstrate his ability TO
maintain a certain high standard of
efficiency or be Immediately clint
mated from the Army. Then finally
came the rupture in the Air Service
when Major General Menoher, chief,
urged the removal of Brigadier Gen
eral Mitchell, assistant chief.
Army circles are clearly divided in
the Memoir err Mitchell fight. One side
insists that General Menoher had
nothing to choose but the enforce
ment OF law and order in his service
while others declare that II the air
forces are to be developed to the
proper plane II can be accomplished
only by supporting General MitchelPs
contention that only officers who
have specialized In aviation and air
craft production be placed in that
service.
Few officers are willing to hazard
a guess in the Menoher- Mitchell feud.
but some are of the opinion that
Secretary Weeks may find a solution
by ordering both elsewhere and de-
failing as chief another major gem
eral who has had no part in the
present row.
h.
fight, naval oficers have centered
most of their attention on the DENLY
Sims trouble. None doubt that the
admiral is to be held to strict &C
countability for his pro-British, anti
Irish utterances. but how strict will
be the punishment Is matter of
conjecture. To reprimand the one who
commanded Americas greatest fleet
in its greatest war is no insignifi-
cant matter; still. with Congress de-
manding action and Secretary DENLY
known as "two-handed" fighter.
naval officers look for interesting
developments before the incident Is
| closed. Admiral Sims Ia expected here
by the end of next week. coming
home under peremptory orders OF
the Secretary.
CASE OF GENERAL WOOD.
One navy man pointed out a some
what similar condition when Gen
| Leonard Wood, at that time the out
| standing figure in the army, was
publicly reprimanded by Secretary
Garrison, when Col. Theodore Roose.
Welt, speaking to the student officers
! in training at Plattsburg, haysd the
past Administration for it's attitude
toward preparedness, While the Sec
retary's repyimand was forceful anj
to the poHt, the generals lsconic
reply was that II would not happen
again. Later, when General Wood
at the head of the division he had
trained, reached Hoboken to embark
for France, he was relieved OF his
command by telegram. Despite his
personal appeal to the President, the
order stood and he was returned to
Camp Funston.
In connection with the present
In army and navy