Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-07

Hi oEChEIARY WILL MAKE NO EXCEPTIONS OF
STAFF OFFICERS TO BE SENT BACK TO THEIR
REGIMENTS UNDER THE RECENT GENERAL
oRDER-GEN. HAZENs REQUEST GRANTED FOR
THE PRESENT
NO action of the War department for years
past has created such a commotlon among
prominent army officers as the recent general
oroer sending back to their regiments officers
who have been on detached duty for four years
or longer. 1t fell like thunderpolt among
both general officers and their proteges who
mad for years occupied easy berths upon their
superiors' respective stats, but it created de-
light among the officers who had been COM
pelled to undergo severe and continuous field
duty on the frontier. The detailed officers
affected by the order, when they recovered
from their surprise, felt confident that with in
nuence, both personal and official, from their
protectors, they could have matters fixed SO
that they could continue in their PAGES.
DIVISION and department commanders argued
that tne Secretary of War had signed the order
without giving it any personal consideration,
both official and persona, Inference for individ-
uai exceptions, would have the desired effect.
Llborins under this impression Gen. Sheridan,
requested the Secretary of War to make excep-
lions to the order in the cases of their personal
aides. They We're mistaken in the premises of
their argument. Secretary Endicott had been
personally considering the matter from the
time he became Secretary of War, and when
ILe tlue lor issuing the order arrived he had
mastered all the details and was entirely cogni-
zant IF what its effect would be-
BESIDES, the attention of the President had
been called to the matter, and It had met with
quests were alike unavailing, for the Secretary
did not intend backing down. He has set his
foot down, and yesterday refused to make an
exception in every one of the individual cases
brought to his attention.
In addition to the officers above mentioned,
Gen. Hazen wrote letter to the War depart
ment from Europe, giving the reason why the
application OF the order to army officers on spe-
the detriment of that service. Three such
officers were affected by the order-Lieutenants
Greedy, Craig and DunwoOdy. Lieut.. Craig, on
duty in California, asked to be relieved from
signal service duty and his request was granted.
The other two officers are regarded as perform
ing necessary special duty under the direction
OF the War department ian exception contained
IN the ORDER, and will not. therefore, be dis
timated to the chief signal officer that their
tention will not be OF long duration.
AS stated, the Secretary of War was
fully aware of the effect of the order,
put was firm in his purpose. He evil
IDENTIFY knew of the special-duty abuse before
he took his seat in the cabinet, and afterwards
his experience as lawyer led him to make
tied the headquarters of various divisions
and departments, saw the officers whom
the order would detach from staff duty, and
compared them with the officers who were
always with their regiments, and could see at q
glance the difference between them. He saw
that staff duty too long continued had a demon
aliZing effect in uniting officers for field duty
and depriving them of all interest in their regi-
ments. He held that the staff was meant for
the line, not the line for the staff, and If the
line was to suffer for the sake of making it
pleasant for the staff, the abuse should be
remedied Hence the order and his firm inten-
ton to stick to it,