Show NO FRICTION SAYS BELL I With General Ainsworth cro Entirely Cordial Washington May 2 21 Generl 21 General General Del Bell chief of staff staf of tho the war var department in n a statement Issued this evening deides de- de ides iles reports of friction fricton between himself him him- self elf and Ainsworth military secretary Rumors of ot trouble started when the tile President resident on Satur Saturday la issued an order or- or ler der designating General Ainsworth acting secreta secretary o of war during the tile Absence of the secretary secretary- r Heretofore this his honor and dut duty has devolved upon tho the chief of staff Gen Genial General i al Bell Del says sas he n never ver d an any satisfaction from going over o el the heads of his Ills seniors that G General ner 1 Ainsworth is his senior in years and service ervice and when he was consulted relative to designating him acting see sec rotary he suggested General Ainsworth Ains- Ains worth Ho lie further says There has been absolutely no friction fricton whatever between be- be teen tween General Generl Ainsworth and anti m myself self either cither since my arriva in Washington or at any other time It I has not been usual or consistent with the general general generl gen gen- eral erl spirit underlying all al rules and time ime honored d customs regulating subordination sub- sub or ordination for seniors to authenticate orders signed b by juniors It I Is not In ill Inthe the he slightest test degree desree necessary An Any Auly officer can n authenticate orders andt and anti It t was wa by mutual agreement between General Ainsworth and myself that orders signed by me should be le authenticated au- au by b bono ono one of his his- subordinates ln- ln ates instead of C by himself If I any officers have been outspoken in their criticism of oC the or order el designating General General General Gen Gen- eral Ainsworth to act as secretary of war var in th tile the absence of the secretary the they hey have havo o ha been Insubordinate If J their criticism was based upon an any supposed supposed sup- sup posed slight to me the they tiley were mistaken mis- mis taken aken t |