The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-31
Deputy Chief of Staff Is
Proud Of Service in
the Army
ALWAYS HAD CHANCE
Retiring General Says Service
Is Good Place for Man
Who Has Pluck


young men who Will enter the servic,
ard stick to 1t. There are no bars o.
caste or creed OF prejudice, A mar
stands on his own two feet anC
makes his way.
Mai. Gen. James G.. Harbord, dep.
uiy chief OF staff, as he spoke thes,
words, sat in his office in the state
war and navy building in Washing
ton Just across the hall was the
Office Of the secretary Of war; lit.
te further away was the office OF
his friend and associate, Gen. John
j. Pershing. chief of staff.
Himself hunored by the passage
Of law which would have permitted
him to take General Pershing'
place as virtual commander of the
armies Of the country, General Har.
bori sat at his desk for the last
time. lie was preparing to go on
his final leave before retiring from
the army. on December 20 he be-
came president of the Radio Corpora
ton Of America with an office in
New York City and with a salary
several times greater than that of
a major general In the army.
Creator of ths S. O. =.
, Across his breast were the deccra-
lons bestowed upon by half the
nations of the world. Throughout the
army, at least, he is known as the
man whose creation of the s. Q. S,
(source OF suppiyj in France saved
the war for America at critical
iunCture. In the language of General
Pershlng himself the passing from
the army list Of James Guthrie Har-
bord will leave a place difficult of
filing" and yet
Thirty-four years ago in mid
f-f a1afuh drntn 1 - old Fort
SpoSan, Washington. from which
a tall raw boned youth alighted with
some difficulty and picked up the
small bag which contained his few
belongings. The youth was Harbord.
Ever since his graduation from
college he had wished to become an
officer in the army. He had taken
the examination for West Point. but
had failed to pass the mark made
nv his competitor and had gone
back to farming. But the urge of the
army .rould not let him rest. He
had gathered his belongings togeth-
ar IN a neat little bag and made the
long, hard trip from his home in
Kansas He was without money
when he reached his journeys end.
As the sleigh drove off he turned
10 the office marked with the sign
Of the recruiting officer. The office
was closed and II was after mess
time Harbord went hungry until
late the next day. when he was ex-
amined, enlisted, assigned to COM
pany A. Fourth infantry, and placed
on Kitchen police---all in one hour.
a good healthy appetite that re-
cruit's got" observed the cook who
watched him eat his first meal
Yes, | was very friendly with the
rnol,s in those DAYS" laughed the
general over his desk. Then as now
Kitchen police was most unpopular
among the enlisted men and when a
recruit joined he was given x. p.
IN order that other members OF the
company might be spared this work,
Indeed services Of such a nature on
the part OF recruit were so priced
that his drill was actually neglected
in order that he might be available
at all times for kitchen duty
\ Times have changed now. When
ID recruit Joins the army he is re-
peeived almost as well as an officer
was in the old days. He Is carefully
QUILTED and is given work which
fits in with his ability so far az is
possible. During his service he is
given every opportunity and en-
couragement to study.
In the Old Days.
when ] went in the service our
commanding officer was one Of the
old school who believed that gar
rison should he awake long before
daylight. Reyeille was at 4 o'clock.
A recruit on duty at kitchen police
had 10 be up some time before in or
der that breakfast might be served
Immediately after the first forma-
ticn.'
General Harbord smiled, His
hands were busy arranging the final
papers on his polished desk. on
the walls were maps showing the
battle operations he had conducted
as commander Of the Marine brigade
at Chateau-Thiery and at Siossons as
commanded of the Second division
A chart on the wall showed the prog
ress that had been made IN the -
o. 9. under his direction. and yet
fomehow, as he spoke. one could sec
Enat the old days when he began
'hls army career were quite the dear
Cst OF all. His eyes were reminiscent
with his memories,
The general is tall in stature, HIS
face is clean shayen. and is one OF
those faces which do not greatly
change with years. His blue eyes
have not forgotten how to smile nor
his lips TO turn occasionally up
ward, but despite its capacity ior
humor and kidliuess. I'm his face are
marks Of the determination whlch
the youth Of "a years ago had so
deeply ingrained in him.
LooHlng at Harbord one sees the
reason for his success. That Jaw ana
that chin and those indomithle eyes
belong to man who could end would
bend every energy of his power
ful frame even TO so small p task as
peelng potatoes II he were calleu
upon 20 do II. Those eyes flashed at
tAe next question,
General, many persons hold 10
the theory that West Point gradu-
aies look down upon a man from lue
ranks or from civil life, In your ca
reer have you ever found any such
caste conditions ,
General Harbord leaned Forward
In his chair.
Caste? Snobbishness on the part
OF the West Pointer? Never! me
graduates OF the military academy
have been my best friends. Ihey
coached me when 7 was trying % get
commission, and they have helped
ne and worked with me during al.
the rest Of my army career. Never
once. by word look or sign have !
4 ever received any indication lhaL /
was not too honored, indeed loI
4 having made my way up from lhe
4 mnks.
Those who hold such an idea do
not know either the army or West
Point. At the military academy the
~ Tt In an