Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-25

posing General Edwards promotion
that thorough search Of the War
Department hles had been made
without finding any record Of such
charges as Democratic senators said
that they understood We're on nle.
Secretary Weeks, according to
committee members was said to have
testified today that after their oppo-
sition developed at yesterdays COM
mittee meeting against Gen. Edwards
heh ad talked over the case last night
with General Pershing.
The latter. II was said, told Secre
tary Weeks that he had not recon-
fmended General Edwards for promo
ton and, IL called on to act again
would not now recommend General
Edwards for higher rank. Secre-
tary Weeks was said to have stated
also that General Pershing did not
now disapprove or oppose General
Edwards confirmation, desiring to
refrain from intervening in the mat
ter.
Information given to the commit
tee today by Secretary Weeks. ac-
cording to committee members. was
to the effect that events which led
to relief of General Edwards from
command of the 26th Division on Oc-
tober %, 1918 had their inception
during the previous July. The order
relieving General Edwards from
command came. 1t was said, on the
Gay before his division went into ac-
ton. The committee was told, 1t was
said, that General Edwards had crit
icized decisions regarding strategy
emanating from general headquar-
tiers. Another circumstance said to
have been involved was that Of har-
monious operation of General Ed
wards in executing plans of the cam
paign involving his division.
The element of reported differ
ences between General Pershipg and
General Edwards was said not to
have been held paramount by Demo-
cratic opponents of confirmation.
Democratic senators said the issue
was whether the Senate should con-
firm the promotion of an officer
whom General Pershing had relieved
from command, virtually on the eve
of battle. The Democratic oppo.
position that under these circum-
stances the administration was not
justified in striking the name of
Brigadier General Omar Bundy from
the list of officers for promotion and
substituting General EDWARDS.
Secretary Weeks was said to have
taken the position that the promo
tons were a matter purely of judg-
ment. He was said to have asserted
that considering all of the facts and
circumstances his honest Judgment
had dictated the recommendation
made in President Harding's list.
Asked as to failure to include
Colonies George V. H. Moseley and
Hugh Drum in the list for promo
ton to the rank of brigadier, Sec
rotary Weeks was said to have told
the committee that their age was the
entire compelling reason. Neither
have had barely more than % years
service, the minimum limit fixed in
the recent army reorganization law
for promotion to brigadier. Other
older officers of much longer service
might be barred from ever attaining
the rank of brigadier, Secretary
Weeks was said to have declared, II
Colonels Moseley and Drum were
promoted Immediately. Their pro-
motion at an early date in any event
is assured Secretary Weeks is un-
derstood to have declared.
All of the nominations of general
officers along with that of Charles
G. Dawes of Chicago to be briga-
der general on the reserve list will
be submitted to the Senate Monday.
No opposition was expected to the
Dawes nomination.