The Washington times., 1921-05-13
.PERSH|NG new.
Chief OF STAFF.
General to Have Broad Powers
In Organization on-Harboard
To Be Aide.
By HARRY L. ROGERS,

by nAnnI II. hOIChO.F
General John J. Pershing will
assume supreme command Of III
the military forces Of the United
States on July next. It was Off
cially announced today.
The announcement ended the un-
certainty that has existed for some
months az to what the future du-
ties Of the commander of the
American Expeditionary forces
would be-
HARBORD TO DE AIDE.
General Pershing win succeed Gen.
Peyton c. March as chief of stafs<, He
viii have as his executive ASSISTANT
MAI Gen. James c. Harbord. one of
the younger general officers OF the
army, who was one Of his chief lieu
tenants In the administrator OF the
A. E. r. IN France. !,
General Pershius 10 the tenth officer
to hold the title OF chief Of staff since
the rsorgantsa tion. In 1909 BY Elihu
Root. then secretahS of War.
Tha snsB order givss General PERISH
tng power and authority in directing
the shairs OF the army and the War
Department, such as has seldom been
exercised by any one officer within
the memory OF the present generation
Of army officers.
NO OPPOSITION SEEN.
The nomination must be confirmed
by the Senate. but no opposition Is ex-
pected from that source.
The detail OF General Pershing to
be chief OF stafY will not affect his
work OF organising and heading the
skeleton organization OF a general
headquarters for war purposes, as re-
Gently announced by the War Depart
ment. The title chief OF scar will lie
more or less nominal with the gen.
eraI, as most of the administrative
work will be done by Major General
Harbord. who is now commanding the
Secind Division In Texas.
No plans we're announced for Gen.
eral March.
The following statement was made
public at the War Department:
The Secretary of War has Sc
Iected Gen. John J. Pershing, u. 8.
A., to be chief of stan. succeeding
Maj. Gen. Peyton c March. effective
July 1, 1871. He also has determined
|G Harbord to be executive. assistant
to the Chief OF Stan, succeeding
Maj. Gen. william M. Wright also
effective July I.
LAW Is CITED.
The law requires the Chief Of
STAFF to cause to be made by the
War Department General Stan. the
necessary plans for recruiting, or
ganising, supplying. equipping. mo-
bilizing, training, and demobilixing
of the army Of the United States,
and for the use OF the military
forces OF the United States for ma
tional defense
Under this provision Of law It Ia
the plan Of the Secretary of War
especially to charge General Perish.
ing, when he assumes the office OF
and training Of all elements of the
army Of the United States, which by
law Is defined to include the regular
army, the national guard and the or
ganized reserves. II is proposed that
General Pershing become actively ac-
quaintd with the various elements Of
the organized reserves and the ma
tional guard, which would form the
larger part of the army he would
command. " active operations should
be undertaken before the date Of his
WILL BE FREE As ORGANIZER.
Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord, as
executive assistant to the Chief OF
Stan. will have supervision over the
administrative activities OF the War
Department under the Chief of STAFF.
handling such matters directly with
the Secretary of War and leaving
General Pershing free to devote his
time to the organization and train
ing of the army and other matters.
This plan will permit General Per-
shing legally to perform the func-
tions recently announced by the Sec
retary OF War in Connection with the
development OF a general headquar-
ters for a war army, OF which he will
be In active command in time of
war, while General Harbord will be-
come the head OF the War Depart
ment General Staff in such emer-
\