The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-04-08

HE IS SOON 10 biz APPOINTED
AND CONFIRMED AS MAJOR =
GENERALsiN the ARMY.
MAY ! OPEN ! Il /. BIG CONT RovERsY
Senate Likely to Discuss Fully cases
s. Sof Others Said to Have Bean MI
4 fairly Treated, and to Uncover the,
* Facts. s-. .,,..-.,s.-
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.


! MISUNDERSTANDING from what is,
heard in Washington, there seems to
be countrywide interest ,insthe Eass
Of Brig. Gen: Clarence h Edwards,
who, it virtually has been announced,
IS to be appointed and confirmed as a
major general Of the regular army as
soon as congress c0nvenes and the
President and the senate can act.
! This Edwards case is one Of several
eases Of general officers Of the Ameri-
can army who were sent back from
france with no reason assigned for
the orders returning them to home
duty. Every one Of the cases has
caused comment, some Of it caustic,
and not few charges have been made
that injustices were done in several
instances.
| Edwards has long been figure in
the regular army. For years he was
the chief Of the bureau Of insular A.
fairs, a position which is held by
regular army officer with brigadier
generals rank. Edwards, who is an
Ohio man by birth and by bringing up,
was made a brigadier general in the
regular army by President Taft. Al
most as soon as the United States en-
tered the W. he was made major
general Of national army and sent
to New kngland where he trained
New England troops, and later led
them across the sea.
| Sent Homo Without Explanation.
At the time that he was made
major general, Edwards was the
ranking brigadier general in the regu-
lar army. He commanded his divi-
sion in several fights on the other side,
and then suddenly and without Aex-
PLANTATION was sent back to the Uni
ted States. New England proceeded
to protest and it has been protesting
ever since. Not long ago many junior
officers in the regular army were made
major generals, every one Of whom
was jumped over Edwards head.
This raised more Of q row, especially
in New England where the Ohioan
soldiers genius for getting at the
hearts Of his men and making every
enlisted man feel that he personally
was known to his chief, had endeared
aim to every man who served under
him. u .E ty r. i -
/ The Administrations which conducted
army, that is, the general staff.
knew-for 1t must have sensed the
fact--that as soon as the new admin
istration came in something would be
done for Edwards Now it Is known
that ne is to be nominated as a ma jor
general of the regular army, Is to be
confirmed by the senate and Is to be
sent to command one Of the most i'm
portant posts Of the United States,
that of the Pacific coast.
Washington Is wondering If, when
Edwards name comes up for cOnfirma-
ton in the senate. the whole contro-
yersy over the removal Of major gen
erals Of the American army from
command in France while the fighting
was going on will he opened up for
discussion, and il the truth in each
case will be forthcoming. If so, there
will be some mighty interesting read
ing, and a perfect mess of charges
and counterchargeS
The Case Of General Shanks.
Brig. Gen. David G.. Shxnks Is the
officer who commanded at the port of
embarkation at HobOken, n. j. He
shipped two or three millions of
men, and the commissary and quarter
master only know how many tons OF
supplies. overseas withOIN hitch
Shanks wanted to command a division
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