"U.S. Army officer (Major General) James Franklin Bell (1856-1919) who was put in charge of the Eastern Department of the U.S. Army in May, 1917." LOC Caption





Note that Bell is wearing a wrist watch, something that was only just starting to become popular with men and, it is often claimed, due to the war.





" (Col.) John Park Finley who served at the Headquarters of the Eastern Department of the U.S. Army at Governors Island, New York under General James Franklin Bell." LOC title.





"Col. William A. Simpson who served at the Headquarters of the Eastern Department of the U.S. Army at Governors Island, New York as Adjutant General under General James Franklin Bell." LOC Caption.





"Col. William A. Simpson who served at the Headquarters of the Eastern Department of the U.S. Army at Governors Island, New York as Adjutant General under General James Franklin Bell." LoC Caption. Col. Simpson's mustache wouldn't pass the regulations that the Great War brought in.





" Captain Richard I. McKenney (1880-1936) who served at the Headquarters of the Eastern Department of the U.S. Army at Governors Island, New York, under General James Franklin Bell." LoC Title.

The New York Times, on this day, ran a collection of photographs of officers at the Eastern Department of the Army, which no doubt was inspired by US efforts to built up its Army now that war had been declared.