Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-17
IMPORTANT ARMY CHANGES
A New Commissary General of Subsistence
to Be Selected.
What MLy Follow Gen. O. o. HOward's
Retfrement-rhOse Who May
he Promoted.

|
events between new and the middle of No
vember next. They involve the retirement
Of officers Of the very highest grades and
consequent promotions ali along the lines.
Brigadier General John p Hawkins, COM
missary general Of subsistence, will retire
for age on the 10Th instant He is now
away from the city on leave Of absence, but
is expected to return two or three days, at
least, before the date of his retirement.
Col Michael r. Morgan is now the acting
head of the subsistence department, and un-
less all cigns fail he will become the actual
head en- the retirement of Gen. Hawkins.
He is next in line of seniority, and Col. T.
c. Sullivan the only other officer who has
a chance of appointment. follows close be-
hind him. Col. Morgan was a strong candi-
date fer the office when Gen. Hawkins re-
ceived the appointment He was then senior
to the latter in point of service, but was
younger in years. 1t is said that the fact
that Gen. Hawkins was to retire several
years before his competitor turned the
scales in his favor. Col. Morgan will not
reach the age Of retirement until January,
1897. Col Sullivan will retire in November
Of the same year.
Gen. HOward's Retirement.
The event Of principal interest to the
army, however, is the retirement from
active service Of Maj Gen. o. o. Howard,
the second ranking officer of the army,
which will occur on his sixty fourth birth
day. November 8 next Six brigadier gen.
erals are eligible for the prospective va
cancy, each of whom is of high military
repute. These are Gen. Ruger, Gen. Mer-
ritt, Gen. Brooke, Gen. McCook, Gen.
Wheaton and Gen. Otis. They are all dis
tinguished and capable officers. Although
1t is within the discretion of the President
to select any one of those named, the i'm
preston prevails in usually well informed
army circles that the chances are strongly
in favor of Gen. Ruker now in command
of the Department 'Of California. He is
first in seniority, and has an exceptionally
gCCd record. Gen. AfcCook Is the first of
the six to retire for age. He will leave the
active list in April hext, ami his remain
ing short term of service is believed to de-
stroy his chances of prefermcnt. 1t may,
however. prove exactly the reversal. There
have been many exceptions to this rule, and
the case of Gen. McCook may add another
His promotion would only postpone that Of
Gen. Ruger or one Of his colleagues a few
months. Gen. Ruger is the next brigadier
general to retire. He will reach the active
age limit in 1897.
The Brixadier Vacancy.
In an appointment. from colonel to the
grade of brisadicr general seniority is not
quite such an impoStant factor. although
with other things equal 1t would undoubt-
edly predominate. ufhere is considerably
more latitude in thez selection Of a briga-
der general than Is allowed in appoint
ments to the higher grade, and the Presi-
dent is limited only by the number of Off
Gers of the line. BY common consent, how
ever. the appointment Is conceded to rest
among about half a dozen of the senior
colonies. Col. Shafter. first infantry, Is the
ranking officer of his grade according to
seniority. He began his military career in
service In
1899. Col. Peter I. Swaine, twenty-second
infantry, is next In rank. His chances are
regarded as poor for the reason that he re-
tires next January. Following in order Of
| seniority come Col. H. c. Merriam, seventh
infantry; Col u. r. Bliss twenty fourth
infantry; Col Forsyth, seventh cavalry,
and Col Anderson, fourteenth infantry.
These are all honorable ames, and 1t is be-
lieved that one of them will be nominated
as brigadier general. although the Presi-
dent Is by no means confined to that list
In making his selection. The chances of
Col Bliss and Col. Forsyth are thought to
be tritle better than their associates, but
that Is mere matter of speculation.
The Department Of the Atlantic.
The retirement Of Gen. Howard will also
leave vacant the command of the Depart
ment of the Atlantic. with headquarters at
New York. 1t is almost a foregone conclu-
sion that this billet will be filled by the
| transfer of Maj. Gen. Miles. now in COM
manu OF the department OF the Missouri,
with headquarters at Chicago. The latter
officer will also succeed to the command of
the army upon the retirement of Maj. Gen.
Schofield next fall The officer promoted
to the grade Of major general will succeed
Gen. Miles in command of the Department
of the Missouri. unless he should elect to
continue in his present command. 1t is un-
derstood that Gen. Ruger would prefer to
remain at San Francisco for some time
longer, even should he succeed In having
another star added to mis- shoulder Straps
The appointment of major general and of
a brigadier general will result in promo
tions in all the subordinate grades in the
line Of the army