New-York tribune., 1921-04-22
Named Combat Leader to
Take Command at In
stant's Notice and Keep
Skeleton &C. III. O."
Peace Duties Left
To Staff Head
Weeks Silent ON Report
Harbord Is to Succeed
March in That Post
From The Tribune's Washington Bureau

FROM me IFl0u7le'S washington bNTedh
WASHINGTON, April 2l.-General
John J. Pershing was definitely as
signed TO day by Secretary of War
Weeks to head the American armies in
the fields Of action, just as he was
supreme in command of the American
Expeditionary Forces in the World
War. He will be authorized to form a
general staff such as he commanded
at Chaumont. The commander with
his staff will be constantly in readi-
ness to take command Of all combat
forces of the army, which will be
turned over to him Immediately upon
the issuance of declaration of war
by the President, if such thing should
occur.
TIC official announcement of General
Pershing's new duties was authorized
by Secretary Weeks in the following
statements:
"The Secretary of War stated to- day
that he proposed to inaugurate in time
Of peace a skeletonized general head
quarters the purpose of which is to
be instantly prepared for active mill
tary operations in time of war. The
details Of the organization will be given
out later General Pershing Will be
the head of the skeletonized general
headquarters.
In Peace, Ready for War
"lt will be ready in time of peace to
act in time of war"
Before the war, Secretary Weeks ex-
planned, Marshal JoTrc had been Sc
lected 80 command the armies of France
and had prepared skeletonized head
quarters that would be available for
instant action in case of war, and it so
functloned when war was declared. He
further said that details of the pro-
posed scheme are difficult TO arrange,
owing to the wording of the law. He
added that the chief Of staff will con-
tinuc to direct the administration of
the military establishment in time CT
peace.
Secretary Weeks desired it under
stood that the plans now being COM
pleted made no material change in the
functions of the army during peace
times and that tho chief of staff will
continue to function as the War Secre-
tary's chief military adviser and ad-
mlnistrativc head of the army estab-
lishment III times of peace.
Silent on Staff Chief
He would neither confirm nor DENY
rumors that Major General James G.
Harbord was to be selected rs chief of
staff, adding that the selection would
be announced within a short time. Sim
ilarly he refused to divulge the new
assignment to be given Major General
Peyton c. Marsh when relieved as chief
Of staff and added that speculation
along the line that General March was
to take the Hawaiian department was
not justified.
General March," Mr.. Weeks said, ais
and he will be given ali assignment Of
Importance"
Cooperating with General Pcrshing's
general headquarters will be the war
plans division OF the General Staff.
headed by Major General William G..
Ham, who was one of the subordinate
commanders in Pershing's staff over
seas. Plans tentatively completed by
General Ham and his associates in the
war plans division call for the organ
lzation OF the American army in three
component parts--the regular army
the national guard and the organized
reserves. General Pershing's functions
will not be concerned with the organ
AH0e elOA VI CHc am IL was explained
to-day, but he will surround himself
with staff and be ready to take com
mand of the armies in the field i'm
mediately upon a declaration of war.
Army of 100000 Regulars
AS contemplated by the national de-
fense act, the military strength of the
American government will consist of a
standing army of 100000 enlisted men.
in addition to the requisite number of
commissioned personnel for war pur-
poses: Supplementing these will be
the eighteen divisions of the National
Guard. two to each If the nine corps
areas, and three divisions Of the organ
lied reserves to each corps area, or a
total of twenty-seven divisions. The
total wartime strength of the Ameri-
can Army, therefore, Will be fifty four
divisions, nine Of which viii be com
posed completely Of regulars, the
remainder to be drawn from the Ma
tlonal Guard and tn. organized re-
serves.
The commissioned personnel of these
Continued on page sIx)