Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28

equal to the active command Of troops
had early recommended that off,
GERS beyond the age of 40 for brigadierS
and As for major generals should not
be selected for active command IN
France except in rare instances. It
had become no longer a question of
theory. Yet up to the end valuable
time was spent in attempts TO prepare
such officers for service-time which
should have been devoted to the train
ing of more promising material.
All questions of policy were as far as
possible taken up with the Secretary of
War. My experience in attempting to
cover such matters by cable to the Sec
rotary furnished conclusive evidence
that the best way to get them before
him was through direct mail CORE
spondence. as. frequently, cabled re-
quests were acted on without his knowl-
edge and often in a manner adverse
to the best interests. One OF these
questions was that of promotion to the
grade of general officer.
Asks Reconsideration.
After frequent attempts to obtain the
promotion of several colonies whose
abilities had been thoroughly tested in
active service, and having failed to get
their names included in a recent list
of promotions, sent cable asking a
reconsideration of my recommendations
suggesting that 1t be shown the Secre-
tary in person.
1 also wrote the Secretary imme-
diately, giving him my point of view
and explaining just what the promo
ton of tried officers with the armies
would mean to efficiency in my COM
mand. In letter from him some time
later 1t was clear that the cable had
IN %
stated In his usual cordial manner that
1t was his full intention to give every
consideration to the men Of proved eff
ficiency in France, which was. in prin-
ciple, all that could wish In practice,
however, this was not altogether car
ried out by his subordinates.
One subject that caused Secretary
Baker some anxiety at that time was
giving the press news of our operations
in way that would meet the persistent
demands without disclosing the num-
bers or location Of our forces, and
which would prevent the War Depart
ment from being regarded as suppress
Ing and withholding news"
Although necessarily never entirely
satisfactory from either the news point
OF view or from that of morale building
at home, this matter was adjusted as
far as practicable through the distri-
OF material contained in the periodical
communicates published from my head
quarters and cabled to the Secretary.
Supply Board Formed.
These and such information from my
confidential cables on the situation as
the War Department thought might be
safely given out furnished thereafter
the basis of information to the press
hnnnn nf
ognized among the armies that COM
muniques rarely gave either fully or
frankly all the facts. A complete state
ment in communicate might often
have discouraged ones own people and
encouraged the enemy. 1t was there
fore natural that communicates by OPP
posing armies reporting the same en-
gagement were often widely at variance
My diary notes the establishment of
the Military Board of Allied Supply at
this time, June %, 1918. The principle
OF cooperation as to supplies in COM
mon use among the armies. which I
had long advocated. finally was recog-
nized after prolonged debate and dis
cussion. The board consisted of one
representative from each Of the allied
armies. 1t was simply the representa-
tive body OF the several supply depart
mentS Of the respective armies, and had
AOIAAi6 Whatever 70 10 WIN actual
procurement.
1t was expected to study questions
OF supply asd adopt proper measures
for the coordination of allied resources
and utilities.
Our supply officers were enjoined to
utilize the services OF the board in seek
ing the equitable allotment of supplies
and in cooperating with corresponding
supply officers Of the allied armies.
Col Charles @. Dawes, who had charge
in a more limited sphere of the CO.
ordination of our own supply depart
ments, Was detailed as the American
member, Of the board.
Courage Of COIOred Troops.
Gables from the War Department
June % stated that the colored people
at home were being told that Negro
soldiers in France were always placed
ZINE DI AVID