Evening star., 1932-08-14
BY GEN. PEYTON C. MARCH,
u. S. A., Retired,

~
u S. A., Retired,
Chief Of STAFF in World War.
ON the way to the United States
from France conferred in
Paris with Gen. Pershing and
~ in Versailles with Gen. Bliss.
Each of these officers put be-
fore me for my consideration the prob
lem of getting more men to France.
Gen, Bliss indicated his belief that two
divisions a month were imperatively
needed. That was, in round numbers,
10000 men.
In December, 1917, $4,000 men had
landed; in January, 1918, $4,000. Our
entire force in France at the end OF
January was less than 250,000 men, 10
months after we entered the war. or
course, this situation was impossible.
At that rate the war would be over
before We got going.
I told Bliss briefly that I would get
over 10000 men month and more
based this statement on the methods
had observed were used In sending the
men over. had determined to use the
transport service as ferry and not as
a transatlantic passenger service, as
soon as got back to the United States
The imperative thing was to get the
men across, and I proposed to make
that fundamental in my policy as chief
of staff of the Army.
Embarkati0n Service Revamped.
After reaching Washington I effected
a complete reorganization of the en-
barkation service, relieving the officer
then in charge and detailing as its
head Capt. Frank T. Hines, Coast Ar
tillery Corps, who was thereafter pro-
y,nnf od until ha hopo hYiya lior
eral. Gen. Hines, now head Of the
Veterans Administration, developed
into shipping man of first rank and
kept pace with the great growth Of his
new department.
Gen. Bliss informed me that there
had been organized in Washington a
number Of extra-legal war boards, each
of which received certain specific duties
and authority from the President. After
had been installed as chief Of staff
sent for the adjutant general and
asked him for memorandum showing
the names of these war boards, the au-
thority for their existence, the scope of
their work, their personnel and to whom
they reported. This was the first time
this information had been made avail
able. and as a matter of fact 1 found
that no one in the War Department
knew anything about it.
Thereafter was arranged a meeting
Of the heads Of the principal war
boards, including Bernard M. Baruch,
head Of the War Industries Board, the
most important Of these boards; Herbert
Hoover, head OF the Food Administra-
ton; Edward N. Hurley, chairman of
the Shipping Board; Edward Garry, di-
rector of operations of the Shipping
Board; Vance Mccormick, chairman of
the War Trade Board; Harry A. Gar
field, fuel administrator, and some
other dollar-a-year men. I was meet
ing these great business men for the
first time and discussed with them what
l proposed to do with reference to the
war program. enunciating the principle
that the most necessary and important
thing was the shipment of men to
France.
Word Battle With Hoover.
I proposed to divert from trade use
all American ships Of size and capacity
appropriate for transatlantic cargo or
troop service The war board heads
apparently were pleased at having di-
rect statement about what the military
considered the principal necessity Of the
war situation. Mr.. Hoover, however,
said he had been promised by the Presi-
dent a certain number of ships In con-
nection with the Belgian relief, and I
replied: mir. Hoover, If we do not get
the men to France there will be no
Belgian relief problem"
The gathering broke up. One re-
nained behind, told me Mr.. Hoover
was very close to President Wilson, and
advised me to go slow about taking any
ships allotted to Belgian relief. I told
that gentleman that I appreciated his
kindly intention, but 1T would be no
punishment to me If Mr.. Wilson sent
me back to France"
After Secretary Baker returned from
France Mr. Hurley asked a large group
of dollar-a-year men who were heads
of these war boards and Secretary
Baker and me to dinner. was seated
next to Mr.. Hoover. He made some
comment about Q military happening