Evening star., 1933-03-26
GENERALS AWAIT
DERN SELECTIONS
New Secretary Sizing Up lob
and Keeping Some on
"Anxious Seat"

Secretary of War Dern, who has not
yet been able to give serious thought
to new appointees while sizing up his
job at the War Department. is keeping
number Of general officers on the
anxious seat" Included among these
are several nominated by former Presi-
dent Hoover, who failed of confirmation
IN the last Congress, but still are wait,
ing hopefully for favorable action at
the hands Of the Roosevelt admins
tration.
Meanwhile. vacancies will occur this
month In the Offices Of chief of Infan-
try and chief of the Chemical Warfare
Service, due to the expiration of the
regular four-year terms for such posts.
The same degree of uncertainty exists
In connection with the Offices of Assist
ant Secretary of War and the Assistant
Secretary of War for Aviation, both
OF which are filled under the law by
civilians. While Secretary Dern is ex-
pected some time soon to make recom-
mendations regarding all these vacan-
cies, all queries are referred to the
White House.
Mentioned for Fuqua Post.
Maj. Gen. Stephen O. Fuqua, chief
OF Infantry, and Maj. Gen. Henry L.
Gilchrist, chief of the Chemical War
fare Service, reach the end of their
| four-year terms the last week this
month. As successor to Gen. Fuqua,
Army gossip largely centers on Col.
William Keith Naylor, whose term as
chief of staff of the Third Corps Area
at Governors Island, N Y, expires in
May. Another likely choice is said to
be Col. Alfred T. Smith, an assistant
chief of staff, and third is Col. Will
liam H. Waldron. executive officer Of
the Militia Bureau
As successor to Gen. Gilchrist, the
Army "dopesters" are talking about Col.
Charles w. Exton, who is chief of
staff Of the Philippine Department.
Brig. Gen. James F. Mckinley. now
acting adjutant general. was nominated
for adjutant general by President
Hoover last December, to succeed Maj.
Gen Charles H. Bridges. He is one of
several nominees who are on the
anxious seat" the Democrats in the
last Congress having held up all nomi-
nations. Gen. Mckinley is nephew of
President Mckinley and has strong
bscking for the permanent post. An
other mentioned, however, is Col. John
E. Woodward. adjutant general at
Governors Island. who is a personal
friend of Secretary Dern.
For the post of assistant adjutant
general, temporarily filled by another
nominee. Col Edgar T. Conley, who
failed of confirmation, it is considered
highly likely that his name again will
be sent to the Senate.
TRULY Likely Choice.
Another nomination that fell by the
wayside was that of Col Greed F.
Fox to be 9 brig2oier general and
/ chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs.
Gel. Francis Lei. Parker. chief Of that
bureau in the previous administration,
was nominated to be brigadier gen.
eral.
The post Of assistant to the surgeon
general, for which Col. Albert L. TRULY
was nominated last December, also
awaits an appointee. Army gossip
gives it to Col. TRULY, anyway.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur. chief OF
staff, has another year and a half TO
serve. officials close to Secretary Dern
ere confident that he will be retained
in the post until the end Of his four
wear term. 1t would be contrary to
past policy were change to be made
Ia the chief Of staff. 1t was said, and
certainly Secretary Dern himself has
given no thought to naming new chlei
of staff at this time. General MacAr-
thur has been of valuable assistance 10
him since he took ofhce.