Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-27
THE COMING CHANGE
Lieut.. Gen. Schofeld to Retire From Com
mand Of the Army.
His Sta6 Omcers All Detachcd-Nay
he Some Delay In Naming.
His Successor.

Preparations are being made at the War
Department for the coming change In the
office of the command of the army In con-
sequence OF the retirement of Lieut.. Gen.
Schofield on Sunday. circular was is
sued by Adjutant General Ruggles this
morning to the following effect:
In anticipation of his retirement from
active service on Sunday, the 10Th instant,
the lieutenant general will be at his head
quarters IN the War Department at three
o'clock OF the afternoon of Saturday, the
2sth instant, to take farewell of officers
who may then call upon him.
'The general desires it to be understood
that. as the occasion will be purely infor-
NAL, officers need not appear in uniform"
General schoGeld's stan.
Orders have also been issued detaching
all the officers on Gen. Schofield's staff to
take effect upon his retirement. Col
Thomas L. Vincent, who has been acting
as adjutant general at headquarters of the
army for several years, will probably be as
signed to duty in the War Department, un-
DER the adjutant general of the army.
Lieut. Col. Joseph p. Sanger, military sec
retary to the lieutenant general, and Lieut..
Col. Tasker H. Bliss, aid-de-camp, will re-
port to the Secretary OF War for further
orders. Col Sanger is attached to the in
to the subsistence department. and they
VIII be assigned to duty accordingly Lieut.
Col. Charles P. Schofeld aid to the lieuten-
ant general. has been granted leave of abb
sence for four months, at the expiration of
which time he will join his regiment, the
secoEd cavalry.
Retirement Order ON Monday.
The order announcing Gen. Schofeld.s
retirement will not be issued until Monday
10
some little time will elapse before the Pres.
ident announces his orders in regard to .ho
vacant command. Although it is generally
understood that Maj. Gen. Miles will be
transferred to Washington to command the
army there is no absolute certainty that
this will be DONE Until otherwise ordered
the duties at present performed by the gen.
eral commanding will be performed by the
Secretary of War; Therefore, from Mon.
day until the prospective vacancy is filled
all orders to the army will be issued by
the adjutant general "by command of the
Secretary of War" The same course was
pursued during the short interregnum that
followed the death of Gen. Sheridan before
quently, 1t has no special significance with
respect to the question as to whether OF
not Gen. Miles or some other officer will
be assigned to the command of the army
The President Must Designate.
Although Gen. Miles will then be the
senior officer of the army, he cannot as
sumo command without special designa-
ton from the President The regulations
OF the army in regard to the question OF
command provide as follows: Command is
exercised by virtue of office or by special
assignment of officers holding military
rank, and who are eligible by law to exer-
else command. Without orders, however
from competent authority, an officer can
not put himself on duty by virtue of hi,
commission alone
Gen. Miles is entitled to three aids by
virtue of his rank of major general. and
his allowances In that respect will not be In
creased by his assignment to the head 81
the army, because that will involve TO in
crease Of rank Gen. Miles has but one
aid at present, Capt. Francis Michler
fifth cavalry, and he will undoubtedly ac.
company him to Washington. There Is mol
likely to be much delay in the selection OF
the officers to fill the two existing va
cancies.