Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-25
BY LUDWELL DENNY


WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-The
new chief of staff of the United
States army pushed back his chair
and thumped his desk:
II don't int, nd to be a desk chief.
I'm not goinS to stay around the
war department much. I mean to get
put in the field and see what's going
bn. The thing that counts in an
army is not numbers but training
Ind training men means inspection"
Major General John L. Hines, Per
shing's deputy, who has succeeded
BLACK Jack" as chief, has a reputa-
kindly driver, one who does not ex-
pect more of others than he demands
IF himself.
His Army Ideal
Hines did not have to hunt for an
answer when the United Press cor
respondent asked him to put into one
,entence his ideal for the army. He
said it in one word:
"Efficiencyv'
When officers say a regiment can
De 'over-inspected, he gets angry.
II you happen on an army post
when Hines is on one of his una1-
bounced inspection tours, the first
part of him you are apt to see is
lis legs sticking out from under
building. When he is giving a bar
,acks the once over, he craWls on
lis stomach and examines the foun-
lations. He never asks the cavalry
officers if the horses are properly
! ihod-he gets down and looks at
he shoes.
And if conditions are not right,
Hines sees that they are speedily
.lade..right He this story of
low he used "strong-arm methods"
% whip into shape his command in
France:
Tells Story
81 joined my regiment, the Six
zenith infantry, in the Gounde Court
urea in November, 1917, and found
large portion of the regiment
LACED or asleep. The equipment was
Tot being properly cared for the
transportation was filthy. l tried
moral suasion for a short while. /
was not highly successful. l had to
resort to 'strong-arm methods mixed
with praise. Here was a case when
irving was necessary to get things
ttarted. l believe that a commander
will often find it necessary to exer-
,ise a driving force to get a com
nand to its feet and sometimes to
seep it there, too
Hines is fond of illustrating the
Iesirability of commanders eXercis-
ng personal leadership with a story
Lbout George Washington when the
a Data tn
The battle of Brooklyn Heights.
General Washington was so in
,ensed at two brigades of his troops
,etreating before a force of about
ifty British that he belabored them
With q stick-and came near being
captured with his aide and his
lorse."
Absolute Obedience
Hines demands absolute obedience
h,apa bis subordinates. In listing the
Atest virtues of an officer, he
49, loyalty first. When asked
. WIZ as the most important thing
he hau learned in the army, he re-
,lied quickly:
Loyalty first and loyalty last"
And he makes this a test of citizen
hip:
obedience to the law because it is
The law, not because You approve or
iisapprove.
Here is bit of his instructions to
Officers: You must accomplish your
ask whether you personally and IN
Iividually approve it or not. Crltl
,ism of the orders of superiors should
,e avoided and discouraged, for it
IAN lead only to disloyalty-the most
ricious characteristic a military
nan can possess"
Attitude Toward Pershing
His attitude toward Pershlng IN
Mexico and France and as deputy
,nder 'Black jack at the war de-
,artment, has been a rigid eXemplifi-
,ation of his doctrine of loyalty.
Much of Pershings success has
come from the unquestioning and
inassuming support given by Hines.
Whenever Hines makes a speech he
includes the name of Pershing With
Washington and Grant as America S
treat military leaders. Secretary of
War Weeks, by the way, classes
Hines as an equal with Americas
outstanding generals of the past,
md one of the best produced by the
World war.
The rule followed by Hines when
commanding under fire is best eX-
PRESSED DN Ills ltNoAAlS dlL''Sh1Aoh
rom Foch at the Marine: Il am
heavily pressed upon my right; my
lenter is giving way; l cannot re-
distribute my forces; the situation
excellent, and 1 shall attack
Self-control Necessary
Self.control looms large in his eye
IS a necessary virtue in military
sen. As a man of high temper, who
,as fought to conquer himself, he
Expects as much from others. lie
ellis how the French command
hanged orders on him three times
:. one night during battle in
france.
Il blew up and paid my respects
the French in no unmeasured
erms,'' he confessed. I'm the midst
II this TRADE l suddenly realized
hat here was something I should
probably encounter often and that
ny actions were entirely wrong. l
an remember no other instance in
which | lost my self-controi in the
.rar.'