New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-08
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
NEW System OF ASSIGNING NAVAL OFFICERS
TO SEA DUTY.
NY TELEGRAPH TO TIE tribune

ny TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRiBCSE1
Washington, May THE interest attending the
contest for the places Of surgeOn General OF the Navy
and Chief OF the Bureau Of Equipment Increases as
the time for settling the question draws nearer.
surgeon General Browne retired on Wednesday.
and the vacancy in his Office can be filled by the
President AT any time. Commodore Dcwey's term
of Office does expire until August but he intends
to resign in a few days, and will succeed Commodore
ellis as member OF the Lighthouse Board reXt week,
when the latter Ietrcs on account Of age.
II Is expected that the President will name the
new Surgc6n-G eneral early this week. II Is not
known whom Secretary Herbert has recommended io
the Office The contest has narrowed down TO Medical
Directors Gihon and Dean. and Medical Inspectors
Van Reypen and Tryon. In recent years snch ap-
poinmens have been made from the grade OF directors
but under the law the selection can be made from
officers In other grades.
The principal candidates for Commodore Dewcy's
present position said to be Captain sclirdgc ana
Commanders Chadwick and Dickens. 1t Is known
that other officers have hopes, but they are not
making an open fight for the place. The 'hree
officers named stand high professionally and other
wise and the President will experience considerable
embarrassment in choosing between them on The
score OF fitness. The friends OF Commander Kolley
d. Evans" Fighting Bob" as he Is callcd-have urged
him to enter the race, hut without success.
Commodore Ramsay. Chief OF Tire Bureau OF NaVi
CATION under the cognizance OF which all details OF
naval officers are made. has devised new system
OF ordering officers TO going vessels II Is uhocr
stood that the system has met with tie approval oi
Secretary Herbert. and with rare exceptions VIII !"
adhered to I'm the future. Heretofore officers nav"
been ordered to sea without particular regard for
seniority or other considerations except the one OF
availability. Under the new rule, !okngy termed the
"bOck syscm.' officers Of about the same grades
and length OF service will be assigned to duty on
certain classes Of ships, and VIII be succeeded "y
those Of similar grades and dates. seniors VIII 20
To the largest and therefore most Important anu
comfortable vessels. and juniors 10 smaller ones.
Executing a few Of The seniors who VIII COMMAND
small vessels Lieutenant commanders VIII perform INC
duties OF executive officers. the older officers GOING
TO fagshps The first fifty to sevcn'y-five lleuenahS
will be to the large ships as naNleators' ""e
the next 100 in this grade Will act rs senior "a''h
officers on the same class OF vessels be'weeh 'i'
executive. navigator aud senior watch officer Oh
every ship there will be distinct difference III fh
In the case OF other watch officers the same system
Of selection on account OF seniority will BE- Observed
length OF service being rewarded with more deSrbie
details The new system las much merit III" -
based upon sound military principle. BY 1t rank ana
length OF service receive conSideration ana proper
gradatlons in seniority are maintained
A question OF much importance to medical oihce'S
Of the Army and one which has attracted general
interest in military circles has been settled by inc
President As ono result OF the decision number OF
vacancies in the medical corps VIII prop
ably occur I'm the near future IL has been inc Gus
tom heretofore for Army doctors to b" cNaH'h'u ~
IN their mental moral and physical qualifications
at any convenient time In anticipation Vi '"''"
clos In sew, raj cases these officers were 'Nah"''u
as many ten or twelve years ago. anu nI' sum
waiting for promotion. The attention OF tho war De
nortment was forclby called to this state OF affairs
last week. An officer who was soon TO De ofuer'u
before n board preliminary to promotion maih'aIhe"
that an examination in his case was unnecessary -
he II I'd undergone at time anterior 10 HIS '5"' w
promotion as required by law. TIE da'e OF MS i'''
examination was about eleven years ago. tn law
as well as the Presidents regulations on the S"''
do prescribe something Of the kind, but the military
authorities did not ih.Nk that the exception coh''m
Mated any such long period OF time. Secretary Lan"
felt that the question was serious ohe'ahu r'''''"
IL 10 the President The President decided au''I'H
TO the claim OF the officer who made 'he Po'l'' anu
he and others Of his corps similarly situated VIII nav
10 pass additional examinations before receiving ther
prom lions unless such examinations are "aiN'u ~
executive authority as may be done II Is probabie
that several members OF tie medical corps VIII lu
on their physical eAa w"na make nScssary their
r,tirencnt and create vacancies In the rover sr'u
npmber ~ practical officers OF the Army on ne SUD
Jet of Indians soldiers the ehcc, o "t rain
aa Indians "% 'f Surr a as ' Wen 1r
According t. these officers Indians ~rh.l ,"nt
OF prompt and faithful Obedl'nc" ~ v, ,,,enc and
n perfcct discipline and amount OF patleilo anu
lard work could supply the deficiency In their MAKE
nm CAPTAIN =. H. Ray. eth Infantry oinulhltins q
comnany OF Indians AT Fort Washable. diners WIZ
majority OF his brother officers on the Indian 1n"s,
and has recently given expression TO the opinion t'
The red man has had fair trial. ana that ,he
nonnar idea OF his military qualities Is mlsc o'c'
Pop,in RAYS expressions on the subject deserve con
idrratIon as his long service with Indians qnaly
him as a good Judge Of them. In recent com'Hoh''
cation on this subject Captain RAY SAID . , |
believe and know that the lndihl; II prop'I'i
handled can be made a good soldier Ihe trouble Is
that he Is not generally handled AZ prr.en, o ne
l. s,iectcd 10 methods prescribed for The whtr man
Th e. a mistake lie should be taken ms an Indian
and trained As such and his original traits ana guam
lies developed and perpetuatcd. Except ~ u, ioDl
and clothing he should be trained ana coittpiIu "
nm Indian pure and simple. Na,urs'y ne Is an |
oHoctIye fr6tpr and under command 81 ms own lrp
ple he is sufficiently subordinate We destroy , ms
IndividuolIty and usefulness by Demanding 81 Nun
mnosejhic conditions and results. II We VIII bn' re-
gard the indian separate but imp1rant ' m,ry
The ARMY and treat him accordirgly III military
methods the problem Is solved and the gam very
considerable This IN my opinion Is ihe secIe' n y,
most humane system that can he followed 10 avert