The sun., 1893-10-01
NEWS OF THE NAVY.


One OF the Obstacles to Promotion Removed
The Case OF Engineer MIntzer.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 3O.-Naval officers are
meeting with more obstacles in the way Of
promotion than the navy has ever before
known. All grades seem to encounter some
trouble. and to-day n case came out which ex-
tends the list to tho Engineer Corps. So far
the chaplains have escaped. but this may be
due to the fact that they are not subjected to
examinations. There are already before the
President the cases OF several officers who
have been reported upon unfavorably by
examining Boards. but where there are
thought to bo mitigating circumstances which
may let some OF them through. The case Of
Commander Johnson was the most i'm portant
and on its disposition hung the promotion OF
nmnations but have been deprived OF COM
missions as Captains for six months or more
below him out Of promotion who are getting
irritable because of the failure Of the depart-
case Of Commander johnson was finally acted
nron BY the President this afternoon, he hav-
iihg III: 4, approved tho report OF his Examining
grade OF Captai n. Action was taken by the
President once before on the case. but 1t. was
first Board were sent back for reconsideration.
Commander Johnson was examined by
Board which unanimously urged his promo
tion. The report was approved by tho Secre-
tary and forwardel to the President and it
assnp %ead thGs S t a
President. however. never takes the report Of
Board on the promotion OF an officer as final
for advancement. and began o search into the
records t., Of the department. on !ohnson's
the medical reports there were sevsral entriss
OF alcoholism against Commander johnson.
hospitals Tor treatment. On these % he eI based
his objections to promoting him. and directed
SECOND md, Board to inanre further into his rec
ord. This board made searching inquiry.
and ended by unanimously passing johnson
!he, second time. The Secretary approved the
on until. to-day. The report was accom-
That. while the medical records showed that
johnson has been treated for intoxication sew
@ IT was rse6rd ns ss he rs on e 4Sy
ton Thc frssldent was In ioubt. howeVer. Se
Jones OF New Hampshire and other friends OF
in his tPSehH and tho
The latest case to come out is that Of Passed
Assistant E1gineepE b, WilIiam A. Mintzer, who
to the grade Of CHIEF Engineer. 70 found IN it pRysi-
caly dissGuaIiiled s and later ordered to appear
ported that MintZer was physically able to
hs be
to do but to order him before the Promotion
Board OF doctors of this city. which corrob-
grated the findings OF the nrst Board. and
held thnt morally and physically Mntzer Is
disqualified. rhis Board bases its objections on
the ground that MntZer testified that he was
the victim Of drink. and that he could not do
withoutit. The disaRreem ent OF the doctors on
the physical condition of Mintzer will proba-
bly, result in more examinations before the
Secretary takes final action. As the Retiring
Board says he should not be retired and the
Promotion Board says he should not be pro-
NOTED. the Secretary will be left to decide
what the status OF Mintzer's case Ia. The last
Board has sent it's report to the Secretary.
coupled with statement that II tho officer
can abstain from whiskey he Is competent to
do his duty. MintZer says that he can do his
onty Just as well with drink. and that no
should not be deprived OF his promotion. Of
ncially. he Is found morally unfit for promo
tion. as tho Board holds that there is some
thing morally wrong with an officer who can
not stop drinking. Alntzer has filed a protest
with tho Secretary. who will have to decide
whether Mintzer shall he promoted retired
or his moral conduct looked further into
A cable m mossage was received at the Navy
Department To-Day announcing the arrival Of
the Eunboat Yorktown Mt Callao. Peru. yester-
day. She Is now the only vessel OF our navy on
the west coast of SouthAme erica south OF Corn-
to. Nicaragua where he AL lance has been sta
tione ed for several weeks. 1t is said at the do
partment that the Yorktown will remain at
Callao for some months to come. The proba-
bilties are that she will be Joined in the win
ter by tho Charleston. now deta ined at Rio do
Janeiro. and in that event she will mako q
cruis sa tn So mon