Evening star., 1925-01-25
Army and Navy News
By NJ. II. Mcintyre.

Between now and the end OF the cur
rent fiscal year a number of general
officers will complete their four-year
detail as chiefs of their respective
branches in the War Department.
MAJ. Gems. Charles s. Farnsworth,
chief of Infantry. and William J. Snow,
chief of the Field Artillery, will COM
piete their four-year assignments as
heads of their respective arms March
2S, while the tenure of Office of Maj.
Gen. George c. Richards, chief of the
Militia Bureau. win automatically ex-
pire June 7. The appointment of Brig.
Gen. Amos A. Fries as chief of the
Chemical Warfare Service will expire
also March IS.
Interest is being evinced in Army
circles as to whether any OF the in
cumbents will be given reappoint-
ment, and if not, who their probable
successors will be. Though no definite
announcement relative to this has been
made by the War Department, a num-
ber of names have been prominently
mentioned to fill the approaching
vacancies. 1t is insisted from other
quarters that Gen. Farnsworth may be
rendered another appointment If ne de
sires to remain. In that event, Gen.
Farnsworth, who will be but o3 on
October IS, 1925. would remain at his
present post about 19 months after ms
first detail expires in March.
Most prominent among those who
have been mentioned as the next chief
of infantry is Brig. Gen. Briant Ii
Wells. commandant of the Infantry
School. who, 1t is stated upon refiable
authority has virtually been selected TO
succeed Gen Farnsworth, who will
complete his four-year detail in March
Gen Wells has a most enriable mil
tary record. his administration of In
fsntry school affairs has been most
efficient and his selection as the next
head of the Infantry arm would be a
most popular one. The other oihcef
whose name has been discussed as
the next chief of infantry is Col. Mon
roe c. kerth. who also has a splendid
record. In the event that Gen. Wells
is elevated to the directing head of the
Infantry arm, it is pointed out that in
all probability Col Alfred w. Bjornstad.
assistant commandant of the Infantry
School, will be selected to fill the
vacancy created by the promotion OF
the former. Col. Bjornstad's promotion
to a brigadier general is still pending,
but il is believed that this block will
shortly be removedS
From all indications, Gen. Snow
Will be reappointed for another four
wear detail as chief of Field Artil
however, have been mentioned on sew
eral occasions as the next chief OF
this arm. They are William s. Nc
Nair. George :. Galley, William NJ
Cruilxshank and Harry c.. Bishop, all
of whom are proven leaders of abil
ity. II is confidently expected, how
ever that Gen. Snow will be reap
pointed to another four-year detail.
1t is a matter of much conjecture in
VI No. ~ rsA1a oz n hn
Will be named to succeed Maj. Gen.
George c. Richards as chief of the
Militia Bureau. Gen. Richards de-
tail as head of the Militia Bureau will
expire on June Z. but as he has passed
the statutory age limit of 81 years,
it is stated he will not seek re-
appointment. Here is a striking i'll
lustration, it is pointed out by OFF,
GERS in the War Department, of a
most efficient general officer, who is
physically and mentally qualified to
serve many more years on active duty,
but who, due to his attainment of the
statutory age limit. must be sepa-
rated from the active rolls of the
Army. To him is given the credit of
building the National Guard up to its
greatest peacetime strength and its
present high state OF efficiency. Gen.
Richards is a veteran Of both the
Spanish American and World Wars.
Friends of Gen. Richards. it is under
stood, are making efforts to amend
this statutory retirement law.
In connection with the approaching
Militia Bureau vacancy, four names
have been mentioned. They are Brig.
Gen. j. Clifford r. Foster, the adju
tant general of Florida: Brig. Gen.
Franklin w. Ward of New York
Brig. Gen. William A. Raupp, who