Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25


Should the promotion of Gen. Hines
from deputy to chief of staff be viewed
as establishing precedent, II mas
been pointed out in these discussions
considerable credulity is being at
tached to the selection of Maj. Gen.
Fox Conner, the present deputy cnleI
of staff, as the next chief OF stan. A
perusal of the list of major generals
reveals the fact that Gen. conner Is
one of the juniors on that list, ana as
he will by December have only Two
wears to serve on the general staff, the
suggestion has been made that an Oh
flcer who is eligible for the full four
wear term may possibly be preferred.
Another determining factor which VIII
enter very largely in the maj seiec-
ton for the next chief of stan VIII De
an officer as well liked by the National
Guard and Organized Reserves as ne
Is by the Regular establishment. II
Is absolutely essential that the cnlei
of staff have the confidence OF all
three componentS Of the Army OF the
United States.
Another Junior major general whom
many believe may be selected TO sue
coed Gen. Hines next December ls
Douglas Macarthur, commander oi
Sd Corps Area, Baltimore, Mo- Gen.
Macarthur not only MADE an en-
viable record during the World war
h,lt since the close of hostilities has
established for himself additional pres
tige for his able administrations of the
Military Academy at West Point ana
in the Philippines. Not only is Gen.
Macarthur splendidly equipped to per-
form the duties of the chief or stan III
an efficient manner, but one OF the
strong points in his favor as the next
chief of staff is the great commence
which he enjoys from all three com.
moments of the Army. That ID itsen
carries tremendous weight.
1t is pointed out, on the other hand.
that the selection for the next CHER or
staff should be made from among the
older general officers in the service IN
recognition of their long and dlstin-
suished service. This phase or the
discussion would eliminate from con-
sideration certain senior officers, que
to the fact that they will be placed on
the retired list of the Army within the
next wear or two upon their attaining
the statutory age limit. In this con-
nection three officers stand out most
prominently who would be eligible Tor
the four-year terms, all of whom nave
rendered equally distinguished serv-
ice. which would make 1t a most DIM
cult matter to make a choice. They
are Mai. Gems. Charles P. Summerall,
now In command of the I'd Corps
Area, who is the senior major general;
Hanson E. Ely, commandment OF the
Army War College. who possesses
great qualities and, it is pointed out,
obtains results without friction, ana
William LAssister, commander OF the
Panama, Department. Gen. SummeISall
displayed exceptional ability during
the war as an organizer and disci-
ulinarian, while Gen. Lassiter, VINO
some years ago served as G-3 OF the
War Department general stan, Is con-
sidered to possess the essential quah-
ties required for the post of CHIEF OF
staff.
AS the discussion waxed warm, the
fact was established that the cnleI OF
staff selection is not confined to the
list of major generals, but tnat
hrigadier general would be eligible for
this ;mnortant post. Service tongues
were set to wagging not long ago by
the presence Of Brig. Gen. Stuart
Heintzelman in Washington, and his
name was Immediately included in the
list of possibilities. That officer has
had broad experience, among his I'M
portant assignments being chief or
staff Of the Cd Army in the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces and as G-2,
GA and chief of the war plans divi-
sion of the general staff. Due to the
fact that the demands imposed upon
the chief of staff are arduous, 1t is
for that reason that the signs point
| to the selection of younger officer as
the successor of Gen. Hines. The en-.
tire matter, however, is the subject OF
conjecture, but the next chiet OF staH'
Il xrvil1 1Nn cntnntpd from
those mentioned. above.
AS the result of a thorough survey
| now being made by a board of Reg
| ular Army officers, meeting in Wash
ington, to consider and report upon
the development of suitable and non
interfering types of radio apparatus
| for the Army air and ground stations
| IT is expected that there will be an
| other revision Of the data and specif
cations pertaining to the radio re
auireAnents of field. army. The