South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-04
GEN. PERSHING
ASSUMES DUTY
AS STAFF CHIEF
Famed War Leader Becomes
Head of L. S. Army, Sue
ceeding Gen. March.

WASHINGTON, July 3. - Gen.
John J. Pershing has assumed his
new duties as head OF all the mill
tary forces OF the United States.
As chief OF STAFF, succeeding Ma
jor-General Peyton c. March. whose
approaching retirement has ben an
nounced. Gen. Pershing Is IN COM
mand OF the general stan. the war
department peace-time organization
and as head Of the general head
quarters organization, authorized by
Sec'y OF War Weeks he will have
charge OF the work OF recruiting the
reserve strength OF the army and
building up the war machine which
he viii command II the United States
again get into war.
Gen. Pershing Is thus put in a po-
sition OF more authority than has
ever before been bestowed upon an
army officer in time OF peace. While
nominally chief OF staff, he will &C
tually be the executive officer OF the
secretary OF war
Maiden. James G. Harbord, as
assistant 20 Gen. Pershing, will have
charge Of the routine work OF the
general staff and in reality will fill
the position which Gen. March has
occupied for more than three years.
Preparedness Is Goal.
1t is the intention OF Sec'y Weeks
that Gen. Pershing shall devote the
greater part of his time and atten-
ton 10 the problem OF preparing the
United States in time OF peace for
war
His first task will be that OF or
ganizing the general headquarters.
which, under present plans, Will be
built up on the general lines Of those
followed by Marshall Foch in the
French army prior 10 the outbreak
of hostilities in 1914. On this subject
Gen. Pershing has very definite ideas.
He saw. in 1917, how the war de-
partment general staff was disrupt
ed when IL became necessary to take
the cream of officer talent from that
organization in order 10 form a stan
! for overseas duty. He Is determined
that such a situation shall not be
brought about again If he can pre-
vent it.
While the facilities at hand will
| permit of only "A skeleton organiza-
| ton, Gen. Pershing intends TO build
up that skeleton organization in such
way that it will be adequate TO
take the field in time OF crisis and
/ Immediately start functioning as the
directing head of the American war
4 time armies. There would, OF course
need to be many additions Of person
mel to put the organization on "A war
| footing, but under Gen. Pershing's
| plan there would be a trained man
for every really vital post who would
not only know how to run ris Job
but would also be ready to break in
others as his assistants when the
proper time came.
Recognizes Civilian Worth.
The present general staff will have
/ charge of all routine matters OF ad-
minisration in the war department
/ during peace time. That organiza-
ton would not be interferred with
\ by the wartime machine, but in
time of war would function as the
! service of supply for the armies in
I the field.
Gen. Pershing also has positive
notions as to the part the civilian
soldier should play in our scheme Of
national defense. AS a West Point
| graduate and regular army man, -
/ the general appreciates the value Of
the professional soldier as a nucleus
upon which to build an army. He
| labors under no illusions, however.
as TO the comparative Importance Of
the roles played by professional SOL
diers and civilian soldiers during the
world war. He believes the United
| States has in her youthful male pop
ulation the greatest military ma
terial in world, and he saw much OF
1t prove its worth on the battlefelds
/ OF France.
The great task, the general be-
| lieves, is 10 keep these young veter-