The New York herald., 1921-05-02
PERSHING TO KEEP
U.S.M WAR SHAPE
General i'm New Job Will Be
Free Agent to Map De-
fence Plans.
ALERT FOR QUICK BLOW
To Give No Orders to Regu-
lar Army, but Will Coop
crate With General Staff.
CAN GO ANY PLACE IN U. S.
Statistics on Man Power and
Munitions Will Be Kept Up
to Date Always.
ALERT FOR QUICK BLOW
CAN GO ANY PLACE In U. S.
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HEEALp
New York Herald Bureau.
WaghiuRfou ID. C.. MAY l.

7 Speciot peSpdtch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., May 1. J
Gen. Pershing's new work, announce
ment OF which recently was made at
the War Department without details,
/ is to be Commander in Chief of the
American fighting army, fully pre-
/. pared at all times to take the field
/ against an enemy.
4 In broad way Gen. Pershing is to
/ be free agent of the War Depart
ment with comprehensive authority
to make military preparations for the
defence of the United States in time
of national emergency. II will be his
duty to prepare detailed plans Of cam
! paign against every possible enemy,
| TO develop so far as possible the poten-
7 tial strength of the regular army and
the reserve so that 1t may be avail
able in the best possible way in time
I Of need and TO be in continued readi-
ness. with an organized staff to take
/ command In the field in case occasion
should arise.
! The details became known tonight
after considerable speculation. It Is part
Of the Administration programme to be
prepared for public emergencies and to
| ca pitalize the potential lighting strength
| of the country as well as 1the regular
standing army for such military service
/ as may develop.
4 Gen Pershing. IL became known, will
! nave little or nothing 10 do with the
actual administration OF the regular
army. that being left to the General
I Staff. as at present constituted. with its
orga nization OF staff corps, such $ the
Engineers, Signal Corps. Air Service,
Ordnance and the like. Gen. Pershing's
stan. however will be composed OF rep
resentatives from each of these staff
corps. who will be the connecting links
between those organizations and the So
called General Headquarters.
May Go Any Place Flag Flies.
| Gen. Pershing's field OF activity will
\ be every foot OF ground over which
! the American flag may 6y-the Cont
mental United States and the territories.
now divided into nine corps areas (for
the United States proper, and three
| departments, the Panama Canal zone.
!, Hawaii and Philippine Islands. He VIII
/ be free to 20 over this territory when
ever II seems desirable or to send mem
\ bers OF his staff to make Investigations
4 There Is TO be close coordination be-
I tween this newly created General Head
quarters and the war plans division OF
] fnW heQ dnnnTtprg
which is at the Army War College In
Wa shinyton The war plans division
takes up also consideration OF military
problems OF every character, keeping
abreast with national and international
Developments and working out scheme
OF army action TO be brought out the
minute IL is desired.
The war plans division will go ahead
with its regular work. submitting In each
instance a report OF It's findings TO Gen
4 Pershing for his consideration and rec
/ o,nmendation. II Gen. Pershing so de-
aires IL will be his privilege TO make
further investigation, particularly with
view as to It's practical operation In
time OF war.
The advantage OF a general headquar-
ters fully informed on all military PROB
leyns will be distinct in the eyes OF the
Secretary Of War. Mr.. Weeks, and others
high IA the army service. " VIII pc
possible for the army organization TO
know who, in the event or hostilities'
will be in command OF the army In the
field. II will be possible TO prepare plans
OF action that meet his approval and VIII
! be carried out by him. which the au-
1 thoritles felt is important since under
! the old system when ranking Generai
Il was hastily summoned TO take command
Il there was more or less uncertainty as
i 10 whether the prepared scheme OF man
\ oeuvre would be carried out. There al
WAYS IS difference Of opinion In the
\ army as IN everything else az TO what
should and what should not be done.
Dntn on All Army Matters.
n addition 10 this preparation for
y taking the field with definite pro-
\ gramme on short notice. Gen. Pershlng
will have information about all regular
4 Army units. their Iocatien, their strength
and. III periods wnen there is uncertainty
\ about some situation their assignment
10 the permanent military posts. AZ the
same time he will have details about the
state Guard organizations. the Army Re-
serve which is maintained. and the
probable results that could be obtained
Il II ever IL necessary again TO apply
the draft. In other words he Will have
hvSrH scrap or information lHht y ~
possible 10 gather regarding the man
power or the nation.
Since the equipment Of an srmy Tor
the field Is OF az much Importance as
ability 10 get the men. this too Will be
in the province OF the permanent COM
mander in chief II will be n part OF his
work to keep Informed on all such sub
iects as available ammunition and other
military supplies. and 70 study In a
practical way the suroces 10 be called
ON IN time OF public need.
since the announcement Of the @~Y
detail was made BY the War Departs
,nent the report has been published that
Gen PershinE was not satisfied with II
OH the ground that II might have been
devised merely 10 provide work for him
II II possible 20 say, however, that this
II not the case that Cen Pershing Is
going into il with the feeling that is
nxed In the minds OF many others--that
such an arrangement IS an asset TO the
scheme o. national defence.
RUMANIAN- CZECH ALLIANCE.