The New York herald., 1921-05-14
PERSHING IS NAMED
AS CHIEF OF STAFF
To Succeed Gen. March July
/, With HarbOrd as His
Executive Aid.
FREE HAND WITH ARMY
Chief Duty Will Be to Or
ganize and Train Forces
of Nation.
KILLS RETIREMENT TALK
Assistant Will Relieve Wright
and Have Charge Of All Ad-
ministrative Work.
KILLS RETIREMENT TALK
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., May I3.

Spectdl despatch to The NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., May I3.
Gen. John j. Pershing, Commander
In Chief OF the American Expedition
ary Forces in France, will become
Chief of Staff of the Army July I, sue
Major-Gen. James G. Harbord will be
executive assistant of the Chief of
Staff, succeeding Major-Ge William
M. Wright, his appointment also dat
ing from July 1.
Announcement to this effect by the
War Department to-day set at rest the
question Of what was to become Of
Gen. Pershing, and removes the cause
for the rumor that he would retire
because he would not be given posi-
ton in keeping with his great reputa-
tfon.
The character of the announcement
indicates that Gen. Pershing's chief
duty will be that recently assigned to
him-'to cause to be made by the War
Department General Staff the neces-
sary plans for recruiting, organizing,
supplying, mobilizing, training and de-
rnobilizing the Army of the United
States and for the use of the military
forces for national defence"
1t is expected this task will require
the greater portion of Gen. Pershing's
time. and that the position of execu-
tive assistant assigned to Gen. Harbord
will carry with it more responsibility
than usually is accorded to this posi-
ton. Gen. Harbord will be the admin
istrative officer of the department OF
the General Staff. and will report di-
rectly to the Secretary of War.
Gives Pershing Free Hand.
The appointment of Gen. Pershing as
Chief of Staff makes it possible for
him to perform the duties recently as
signed him of putting the army on a
going basis without violation of any
of the provisions of the law creating
the General Staff and assigning its
duties.
The important task that will be as
signed TO Gen. Harbord under this lr-
rangement is clearly indicated by the
War Departments statement. which
says:
"Major-Gen. Harbord. as executive as
slstant to the Chief of Staff, will have
supervision over the administrative ac-
tivities of the War Department under
the Chief of Staff. handling such mat
ters directly with the Secretary of War
and leaving Gen. Pershing free to de-
vote his time to organization and train
ing of the army and allied matters.
This plan will permit Gen. Pershing
legally to perform the functions re-
Gently announced by the Secretary of
War in connection with the development
of a general headquarters for a war
army, of which he would be in active
command in time of war, while Gen
Harbord would become the head of the
War Department General Staff in such
an emergency"
No announcement has been made of
the future assignment that will be given
10 Gen. March.
Gen. Pershing for several weeks has
been considering the methods he will
use In building up the army so II can
lie Immediately developed into a war
machine If occasion requires. His task
viii make IL necessary for him to travel
about the country, as 1t is proposed that
he shall become acquainted with the
various elements OF organized reserves
of the National Guard, which wou'r
form the larger part of the army ht
would command If active operations
should be undertaken"
Hartford Once n Private.
Gen. Pershing's record and career are
70 well known as to require no addi-
tional mention at this time. Gen. Har-
hord is one OF the younger officers OF the
army and has a brilliant military repu-
tation. He served as private. corpo raj,
sergeant OF Company A, Fourth Infan-
try. and as quartermaster sergeant Of
the Fourth Infantry from January. 1889,
10 August, 1891. lie was promoted from
captain to major December 10, 1914:
lieutenant-colonel May Is, 1917: general
staff June IL, 1917; colonel of cavalry
temporarily August 5, 1917; briga-
dier-general Novemb 80, 1918, and
major-general September s. 1919.
Gen. Harbord served during the Phil
ippine fnsurrection, and was on the bor-
der patrol at Douglas, Ariz., during the
Mexican trouble. While In France he
was chief OF staff, General Headquar-
tcrs, American Expeditionary Forces.
until May 3. 1918: in command Second
Division until July "a, 1918, and in COM
mand Of General Headquarters. s. o. s.,
A. y. L.. TO November, 1919.
Gen. Harhord was awarded the Dis
tinguished Service medal for his services
as chief OF staff OF the A. Il. f.. and
later as Commanding General, services
of supply. He commanded the Second
Division at Belleau Wood. and served
with distinction during the attack on
Scissors July Is. 1918. He has received
the following foreign honors: Belgian
order DE la Couronne (Grand Oficer),
British Order of st. Michael and St
George (knlght Commander), French
Legion OF Honor (Commandeur),
French Croix de Guerre with palm, and