Evening star., 1946-05-14
Plan for 6 Large
Army Areas Gives
Baltimore Key Role
BY Nelson M. Shepard

BY Nelson N. Shepard
Baltimore, long the seat of the
Third Service Command en-
bracing Maryland and Virginia,
gains strategic Importance in
the new role announced for it
today as future headquarters of
a larger Second Army area, one
of six to be established in the
United States.
The Military District of Washing
ton, however, remains untouched by
the newly revealed plans for Army
and War Department reorganiza ton,
which eliminates on or after June IL,
along with the Army Service Forces
headquarters, the nine geographic
cally based Service Commands. Brig.
Gen. Robert N. Young, it was ex-
planned. continues in command of
the Washington Military District
which was set up during the war
as separate command directly
under the War Department.
Gen. Jacob L. Devers, command
Ing general of the Army Ground
Forces, will move his Headquarters
soon from the Army War College in
Washington to Fort Monroe, Va, in
the Norfolk area. There he will as
sumo overall command, under the
reorganization, of the six armies
and their functions in this country.
The changes authorized by execu-
tive order, place 1t. Gen. William H.
Simpson, hard-fghting, Texas-born
commander of the old 9th Army in
Europe, directly in command of the
I'd Army and its area, with head
quarters in Baltimore. The area
now controlled by the Sd Service
Command will be widened to include
Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Penn
sylvania, West Virginia, Maryland
and Virginia remain as part of the
newly carved area.
Before the creation of the Wash
ington Military District, the District
of Columbia was included within
the jurisdiction of the former Sd
Corps Area, later changed to COM
mand status. Gen. Young, as
Washington District commander,
will continue in supervision of in
stallations in this immediate area.
Army officials believed that Fort
Meade, Md, probably will be the
most important military center in
the I'd Army Area.
Gen. Simpson returned from over
seas last June. In September hel
was assigned as commander of the
I'd Army with headquarters in Mem
phls, Tenn, but was called to Wash
lngton to succeed the late 1t Gen.
Alexander M. Patch as president
of the War Department board which
made the sweeping recommended
tions on which the reorganization
program was based
Gen. Eddy May Remain.
The Memphis headquarters are
being discontinued and the ap-
proximately 900 personnel, officials
said, will be transferred to Balti-
more.
Now In command in Baltimore isl
Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy, former
head of the 18th Corps in France.
He was assigned to head the Sd
Service command in January. 1t is
probable that he will remain in Bal
timore either as deputy under Gen.
Simpson or as his chief of staff
The present Baltimore headquarters
of the Sd Service Command and
staff will be absorbed by I'd Army
Headquarters and will serve as a
sub-post
Basically, the reorganization plan
streamlines the Army commands, |
provides greater autonomy for the
Air Forces and larger AAF repre-
sentation on the general staff and
places increased emphasis on Scien-
tific research and development of
new weapons and methods of war
fare
officials said today, however, that
the new organization projected lis
not intended as a model for the
formation of unified department
of the armed services which is the
subject of pending legislation" as i
we'll as bitter controversy.
Approved by Eisenhower.
However, in the event such leg
1slation is enacted" the War De-
partment said, the War Depart
ment organization, with minor ad-
justments, can remain substantially
unaltered, except for the transfer
of the Army Air Forces to an inde-
pendent status within the new de-
partment."
The reorganization will occur at a
time when the Army is down from
wartime peak of 100000 to $780,
900 officers and men.
The Simpson boards recommen-
dations were approved by Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, chief of
staff, and Secretary Patterson be-.
fore they were sent to President
Truman. Late yesterday the Presi-
dent issued the executive order
which authorizes Mr.. Patterson to
reasSign the functions of the Service
of Supply Command of the Army |
Service Forces.
. The major recommendations un-
der reorganization are:
l. Scientific research and devel-
opment primarily new weapons) |
are placed under the personal direc-
ton of the Secretary of War. He
will be assisted by an advisory board
of leading scientists, technicians and
lndustrialiSts. A military research
and development division on the
general staff level will operate di-
rectly under the chief of staff to
coordinate military and civil re-
search.
2. Duties of the Chief of Staff are
broadened and made more specific.
He is placed in overall command