This memorandum, covering the laws, regulations, and orders respecting the General Staff Corps, is furnished to officers of the corps for their information

and guidance.

LEONARD WOOD,

Major General, Chief of Staff.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE PAS

SAGE OF THE GENERAL STAFF ACT;

AND COMPILATION OF PRINCIPAL REGULATIONS, ORDERS AND MEMORANDA
RELATIVE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL STAFF CORPS AND THE
DISTRIBUTION OF ITS VARIOUS DUTIES AMONG THE SEVERAL DIVISIONS
THEREOF WHICH HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FROM TIME TO TIME.

THE ARMY WAR COLLEGE.

The first step taken which finally led to the establishment of the General Staff Corps was the proposition contained in the Annual Report of the Secretary of War (Mr. Root) for 1899 for the establishment of an Army War College. This was followed by the issue of the following order:

31. By direction of the Secretary of War, a board of officers to consist of Brig. Gen. William Ludlow, United States Army; Col. Henry C. Hasbrouck, Seventh United States Artillery; Lieut. Col. William H. Carter, Assistant Adjustant General, United States Army, is appointed to meet at the War Department, in this city, on Monday, February 26, 1900, at 10 o'clock a. m., for the purpose of considering regulations with a view to the establishment of a War College for the Army. The travel enjoined is necessary for the public service. By command of Major General Miles:

H. C. CORBIN,
Adjutant General.

Lieut. Col. Jos. P. Sanger, Inspector General, was subsequently detailed as a member of the board.

The first legislative action relating to the Army War College is contained in the Army appropriation act of May 26, 1900, as follows:

For hire of clerks, purchase of stationery, furniture, and for contingent expenses incident to the establishment of the Army War College, having for its object the direction and coordination of the instruction in the various service schools, extension of the opportunities for investigation and study in the Army and militia of the United States, and the collection and dissemination of military information, twenty thousand dollars.

This appropriation was allowed to lapse as the organization of the college had not been completed. Since that time, however, an annual appropriation has been made for the contingent expenses of the college, the same being disbursed by the secretary thereof, in accordance with the following order:

GENERAL ORDERS,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 27, 1904. The secretary of the Army War College is authorized to make purchases and sign contracts on behalf of the Army War College from