New-York tribune., 1921-05-14
Takes March's Place July
i; Will Also Continue
Work of Organizing
War Forces of Country
Most Power Ever
Given u. S. Officer
Harbord,> His Assistant,
Will Look After Routine
and Office Work Details
From, The Tyibure's Washington Bs.reeu


WASHINGTON, May 13.-General
Pershing to-day was named chief of
staff of the army and will assume that
Office July l.. In addition he will re-
main head of the general headquarters
or war staff, and in time Of war will
be COMMUNICATIVE chief of the American
combat forces. The appointment was
announced to-day by Secretary of War
Weeks.
Major General James G, Harbord will
become assistant to the chief of staff,
the Secretary said.
General Pershing will relieve Major
General Peyton G. March, who will be
given an important assignment in the
field, while General Harbord will sue
ceed Major General William M Wright,
who also will be assigned to command
of troops.
The combined Office as head OF the
combat and peace time forces of the
army will make General Pershing the
supreme leader of the American mil
itary establishment, concentrating, rs
it does, in him greater power and au-
thority in directing the affairs of the
| army than have ever been conferred
upon any one officer.
The appointment of both General
[ Pershing and General Harbord met with
universal favor in army and Congress
sional circles.
Harbord to Handle Routine Work
| While carrying the title of chief of
staff, General Parshing's services will
not include the administrative func-
| tions that now come under the direc-
! tion of the chief of staff. General Har-
l,bord,. as his executive assistant, will
handle the routine duties of the office,
permitting General Pershing to special
ize in the larger functions of whipping
into shape for immediate war purposes
all the elements of the army, including
the National Guard and the organized
| reserve.
Defining the functions Of General
Pershing, Secretary Weeks to-day said
THE law requires the chief of staff
to cause to be made by the War De-
| partment general staff the necessary
plans for recruiting, organizing, sup
plying. equipping, mobilizing, training
and demobllizing the army of the
| United States and for the use of the
military forces for national defense.
Under this provision of law, it i.
the plan of the Secretary of War tt
especially charge General Pershing
when he assumes the Office of chief o.
staff, with the organization and train
ing Of all elements of the army of the
| United States, which by law is defined
to include rthe regular army, the Ma
tional Guard and the organized re
| serves 1t is proposed that Genera
Pershing become actively acquainted
with the various elements of the or
ganized reserves and the Nationa
Guard, which would form the large,
mand if active operations should b,
undertaken before the date of his re
tirement or detail to other duty.
Pershing to Work on War Forces
| "Major General Harbord, as execu
tive assistant to the chief Of staff, will
have supervision over the administna
under the chief of staff, handling sucl
matters directly with the Secretary o
War and leaving General Pershini
free to devote his time to the organiza
tion and training of the army an,
allied matters. This plan will permi
General Pershing legally to perform
1.-the functions recently announced b.
the Secretary of War in connectio,
with the development of genera
headquarters for war army of whicl
! he would be in active command il
time of war, while General Harbor
would become the head of the Wa
Department general staff in such a
emergency"
The recent appointment of Genera
Pershing as chief of the war staff, wit
authority to surround himself with
staff Of officers to be utilized in di
, recting the combat activities of tn
/ army in the event of war, will be car
ried out without interruption unde
! the new garrangem War Depart
i ment officials believe the additional au
j thority vested in General Pershing b
reason of his appointment as chief o
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