BLISS, Tasker Howard, American soldier: b. Lewisburg, Pa., 31 Dec. 1853. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1875, and with honors from the United States Artillery School in 1884. A scholarly soldier, he has acted in numerous capacities involving technical capacity beyond the range of strategy and tactics. In 1884 he was nominated recorder to the board appointed by the President to report on the military value of the interior waterways of the United States; he was professor of military science at the United States Naval War College from 1885 to 1888; aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-General Scho field, and inspector of rifle practice 1888-95. For the next two years he was on special duty with the Secretary of War, and military attaché at the American legation at Madrid until the outbreak of the Spanish War. He served in Porto Rico and Cuba, and subsequently became collector of customs at Havana and chief of the Cuban customs service. In 1902 he was
made brigadier-general and appointed member of the Army War College Board, becoming commandant of the college in 1903. After hold ing commands in the Philippines he was ap pointed assistant chief of staff in 1909, and spent some time in southern California on the Mexican border. Between 1911 and 1915 Gen eral Bliss filled various important commands and again became assistant chief of staff in February 1915; a member of the Joint Army and Navy Board in September, and major-gen eral in November. On 21 Sept. 1917 General Bliss was named chief of staff of the army in succession to Maj-Gen. Hugh L. Scott, who had reached the age of retirement. On 8 Oct. 1917 he was raised to the rank of general. In November of the same year General Bliss accompanied the United States commission headed by Col. Edward M. House to represent the United States at the inter-allied war con ference in Paris.