Show n t M I t M M M I M It H 0 M M H I M MA 1 i A A NEW ARMY BILL I I I I I I I I I I I I I t The bill bilI to increase the efficiency of the army introduced in the Senate yesterday by Mr Hawley chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs is likely to attract wide and favorable attention as offering a means o of correcting the evils of our present present pres pres- ent military organization exemplified in the differences differences differences dif dif- dif dif- between the Administration and the general general gen gen- eral eTal commanding the army which have caused so much discussion and ill-feeling ill in the country of late The important part of the measure reads as follows Subject to the command of the President and general direction direction tion of the Secretary of War th the lieutenant general 1 shall exercise exer exer- oie lec l Pio Ib erd else cise I general e command a over the military forces g of the United States shall Issue army arm orders' orders and direct inspections of the troops He shall shaU be charged with the Instruction training discipline discipline discipline dis dis- dis- dis and distribution of the army with the preparation prepa and maintenance of detail detailed ed plans for tor the mobilization of or the military military mili mili- tary forces with the preparation and maintenance of or schemes of or offensive and defensive operations and with collecting and co compiling military 1 information I It ri will Wf be his I duty fr to see that t the army is at all times suitably suitably suit sult- ably and amply y supplied l a and equipped and that the munitions munitions muni muni- s of gF war a are of on the best t material it and o of nS suitable I I character r c He will recommend suitable persons for promotions and for forI unitary military I honors and n rewards r He will be e assisted s In his duties Ull by and his 1 ng orders e will fI ib be conveyed nv erl and executed i through g gUll the agency of or the general officers holding commands and the general general general gen gen- eral staff of the army anny Other features of army administration are provided pro pro- vided for in the bill but its chief public interest lies lie's in the above paragraphs which purpose giving the commanding general a legal status which he does does' not now enjoy and in providing him with functions under conditions in which he will be protected by bylaw bylaw bylaw law in their exercise The farce of the War Val Department Department Depart Depart- ment situation n has gone on long enough A man man regarded by the most competent auth authorities at home hom and abroad as our best general is in nominal command of the military establishment In fact he Commands it only in the sense that the servant who S sweeps his office does A civilian ilian Secretary innocent innocent inno info cent of professional knowledge or experience actually actually actually ac ac- ac- ac commands but by th the advice and consent of a subordinate subordinate- staff officer el ei whose duty it would uld be be- bein in n nany any other service to answer the bell of the general commanding and receive his orders The generalS general staff idea is correct but its chief and adviser iser in army and war matters to the President dent Secretary dent and Secretary of War Var should be the officer in chief command To the White House and to the Department he be should occupy the position and t relations l that hat Marshal nt von l did t to the Kaiser and the the- German government in his his- day The solution is or rather would be an easy one but for departmental politics which need to to tobe be eliminated eliminated limi- limi as quickly as possible for fOT the good of the service service ser- ser vice Aice and of the country Th fh The Hawley bill i if enacted into law lawi certainly would be a long step in th the desired desired desired de de- de- de sired direction |