The sun., 1895-01-02
the AGE RE7IREMENTS FOR 1898.

ness VI tIe pTeStnL law EONoCnlHk uSslkutucubs
THE AGE RETIREMENTS FOR 1898
Prospective Promotions In Army and Nav,
The Chances for the Stars.
| WAsHINGroS. Jan. 1.-The new year will
| bring, in its course, the sixty fourth birthday
| anniversaries OF two out Of the three Major
| Generals In the army, two chiefs Of staff corp
ranking as Brigadier- q enerals, three Colonels o
the line who are commanding regiments, sever
Colonels and two Lieutenant Colonies in tn,
| staff department, and seven officers of inferior
grades. The compulsory retirements for age
all these officers will be followed by successiv,
promotions in the grades below them. except IL
| the case of a Post Chaplain and a Major OF tn,
| Pay Corps whore there are no inferior grades
The promotion OF two Brigadier-G Generals tn,
award Of four stars in line and staff. and tn,
| promotions to Ave commands of regiments and
to nine staff Colonelcies, with the steps upward
In lower grades make mp good prospect OF ad
| vancement resulting from this source. taken
| with the other customary depletions OF the
active list
The most prominent retirement of tie year
will be that of the highest officer OF the army,
Major-Gen. Schofeld, which will occur Sept. 20
When Gen. Sherman went upon the retired list
for age. and attempt was made to exempt
him from the operation OF the law. q precedent
was created which showed that the most ex alt ed
rank, the greatest public services. and the
highest military reputation would not avail. in
time of peace, to make an exception to this
inexorabe law. 1t Is true that, by special enact
ment, Congress provided that Gen. Sherman
should receive the full pay of his grade OF GEN
eral. on the retired list, instead OF the three
fourths pay fixed under the law; but even that
special privilege only puts in stronger light the
With Gen. Schofeld's withdrawal. Gen. Miles
will no doubt become the Major Ii eneral COM
manding the army.
But before that event will come the retire.
ment OF Major-Gen. McCook. fixed for April
-. Already, therefore, the question of who
will be his successor is discussed, but with a
general impression that 1t is practically settled.
Gen. McCook's recent promotion over the heads
of three seniors was undoubtedly due to special
considerations. He was the Oldest Of the Brga-
diers, and had seen much the longest service,
besides having a distinguished record in the
civil war and ample qualifications for his pres
ent rank. But the most noteworthy feature in
his was that his retirement in little less
than six months would allow him to receive tho
promotion to & en-. Howard's vacancy. and then
to make way. in his turn, after that short
period. for others. This tribute to good soldier
was therefore paid: but now it is fully expected
that promotion will resume its ordinary course,
Cooks successor.
Gen. Ruger was the first of the present Briga-
the star, and has since fully JUSTIFIED the % Wisdom
Of the choice On graduating from West Point. in
1854 lie entered the Engineer Corps but shortly
afterward resigned from the army. When the
civil war broke out he entered the volunteer
army rs Lieutenant-Colonelo of the Third Wis
the regular army at Gettysburg and that OF
Major-General OF volunteers at Franklin. After
Infantry. and reached his present grade nearly
il seems equally safe to forecast the promotion
OF Gen. Merritt, now the second highest OF the
Brigadiers, to fill the vacancy caused among the
Major-Generals by Gen: Schoheld's retirement
from West Point in 1860, greatly distinguished
himself In the cavalry. being present in many
breyets u up to to and including that Of mi Major.Gens
eral in the regular army. and the brevet of
sna e the latter for
was made Lieutenant Colonel OF the Ninth
Cavalry; and reached his present grade in April.
for expecting the promotions OF these two
officers, IT. may be mentioned that Gen. Ruger
retires early In 1897 and Gen. Merritt in 1900.
while the officer next below them, Gen j. r.
Brooke. does not retire until 1902.
1t is more difficult to pick out the two Colonies
for the vacancies caused by these promotions
One OF them may be the RANKING line Colonel.
Col w. r. Shafter, First Infantry. who began
his career as First Lieuten of the Seventh
Michigan Infantry. and reached his present
grade and command in the regular army as
times been passed over In promotions to the
star. He retires IN 1890. Col. p. T.. Swaine
who is next in rank among the Coonels viii be
retired during the present MONTH or those
who remain 10 contest for the vacancies the
leaders in order OF seniority are Col. II. c. Mer-
1900: Col. 4. NJ. Anderson, Fourteenth Infantry.
Infantry, retiring in 1897; Col Il. i. A. Crofton,
Fifteenth Infantry, retiring In 1908; Col: J. r.
Eeds ph SSysry retiring IN h9o col G.
May, and Col; i. y. Closson. Fourth Artillery,
two candidates likely to receive the stars.
active list this year are Brig.;Ge Casey. Chief
q Engineers, May 70. and Brig. Gen. smith.
w course come their reseectTe er eSrps
The three line Colones who retire are Col.
Swaine, Twenty second Infantry, Jan. 81; Col.
will be filled by seniority promotion. The other
'fisdall, and Crandal OF the Infantry, and EIting
Of the cavalry. In the stan many distinguished
sss T h gin, s aSGe
onels-Col, q. II. Mandell, Col. II. l.. Abbot, Col.
g. B. Comstock, and Col. g.. ii. Elliot. The
bingham and Col, II. L, Hodges; the Medical De-
ppsIta pssEItmepI, ,,.: Col T. smith i!s second highest
Coils, Gilman OF the Subsistence Department
and Winthrop Of the Judge Advocated GENERALS
Department, the latter It's second highest officer,
retire this year, as do also Major Eckels OF the
nS 1tt Sorps anu rost Snhplhin iarkeI,
In this service the limit Is q" years for the ac-
tive list. Rear Admiral Greer retires Feb. aS
and Commodore Potter May %, their vacancies
being filed by seniority under the present sys-
tern. Chief Engineers Wharton, Laws, and
Williamson; Medical Directors Gihon and
Dean; and Pay Inspector GoldsbOrOugh also re-
tire this year. HUT the line Is looking for pro-
motions chiefly To the Reorganization bill, should
IL become a law.
Pilot GuIiy's Shooting scraps.