Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-17
WEEKS TRYING To
END ARMY FRICTION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ueascd Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921


WASHINGTON, May 14.-Secre-
tary Weeks has started in earnest
to heal the sores of the war depart
ment. The appointment of General
Pershing as chief of staff of the
United States army with the I'M
precedented selection of an assistant
chief of staff who will avowedly
have charge of all administrative de-
tail may seem difficult to explain
to the outsider, but viewed as part
of n general policy of reconciliation
between jealous factions ana con
hailed as the best way out OF
malignant controversy which had It's
origin during the war and which mad
to be settled tremendously before
the war department could function
smoothly.
During the war and indeed since
the armistice there has been more
than .one clash between the officers
who saw service overseas, some OF
whom had a tendency to regard as
less important the stay-at-home OF
ficers. and the folks who dlrected
the training of troops and the mobln-
zation of resources on the American
side of the Atlantic. Conversely, the
officers on this side showed sensl-
tiveness concerning the overseas OF
ficers-the latter having insisted
upon more than one occasion upset
the states made on this side.
Friction During War
The conflict between General Pey-
ton c. March. chief of staff in WASH
ington, and the headquarters of Cen
eral PerShing overseas, was never a
matter of open break. Denials were
repeatedly made and probably. will
be made that any friction existed,
but the fact is when people try TO
issue orders to each other 5,OOO
miles away and without specific
der which each side is working every
day, there is bound to be friction.
Secretary Weeks has the highest
appreciation of the ability of Genera
March. Were it a question of just
having chief of staff with whom
there wouldn't be the slightest hest
tation on the part of Mr.. Weeks to-
retain the present head of the army.
But General March incurred to some
extent the ill-will of members OF
congress who were not accustomed to|
be treated brusquely even in war
time. Just as General CroWder made
enemies in congress by rigid en-
forcement of the draft law, so will
General March be known in army
history as one of the martyrs OF
the war in Washington.
Secretary Weeks, however, has tax
en- a practical and not a sentimental
view of the situation. To smooth
out the various controversies ana
start things going, he had to appoint
a new chief of staff. General Per
shings ability and prestige bulked
lied that to put General Pershing in
the closest contact with adminlstra-
tive detail might serve only to <eep
alive certain elements of contro-
versy. For instance, Major Genera
Edwards who was sent back from
France at Pershing's orders, is di
rectly under the jurisdiction of the
chief of staff, other sources of trc-
ton due to overseas troubles might
have been revived were General Per
shing to be obliged to handle the
personnel of the army again--some-
tasteful to him.
Persl1ing's Assistant
The first plan suggested was that
the hero of the American expedition
airy forces be made generalof reserve
armies and occupy a separate and
distinct post from the peace-time or
ganization of the army. But a care
full examination of the law revealed
that this was impossible-the army
and all it's parts must be under the
ask congress to make a new law
meant legislating for a particular
situation which might be embarrass-
ing upon the retirement of General
Pershing. The only way out was to
make General ,Pershing chief of staff
give him nominal command of the
entire army and specific command
of the reserve armies. The 'n"n
chosen for assistant chief of staff
General Harbord-is a close friend
of General Pershing. In France Cen
eral Harbord was in command of the
service supplies-the famous second
line of defense, post that required
extraordinary ability. General Har-
lords executive talents won uniVer
sal praise. lie is not only an able
but popular officer and his record
overseas is such that he can be eX'
pCcted to handle the peace-time army
without friction.
First Secretary Weeks had to han
die the Edwards controversy. He
solved that by making Brigadier Gen
eral Edwards a major general and
putting him at the top of the list.
When he had to tackle the contro-
versy over the retention of General
March and finally the recognition of
General PerShing's services. Secre-
tary Weeks feels that he has recog
niZed all parties and begun q new
deal And now he wants the rank
and file Of the army, the cliques and
the cabals to cease their intrigueG
and settle down to business.