New-York tribune., 1896-02-02
ARMY NOTES OF INTEREST.

among the coonels and brigadier- generals, pe-
cause in the selection Of to fill a vacancy
among the brigader generals or major-generais
there appears to have been favortism exercised
either through political personal influence IL is
natural that officers who have crept slowly along
from grade to grade until they have reached the
top OF the coones' or brigader-g generals Fst ana
then find that one several numbers Junior In rank
should be selected for a vacancy in the next higher
grade should feel that injustice had been done.
This Of course, includes those only who have
borne clean and honorable reputation, ana Wno
Whether Congress will remedy this 0it-repea,eed e
resolution just introduced BY Representative Her
mann Of Oregon. reciting that unjust discrimlna-
officers and calling on the President for informa-
ton to why Coones Shafter and Merriam nave
echo Of the case of Colonel Coppinger. who was
jumped up the heads of about dozen
colonies.
The revised army regulations have just begun to
come from the printer TO be distributed and now
clamor from large number OF oilcers
for a revision OF the Laws for the Better Govern
ment OF the Army" they are more familiarIy
known, the Articles OF War" That the code OF
laws for the army not up 10 date has been con-
tended for a long time Comparing them with the
regulations governing foreign armies few months
ago, an officer plainly showed that they were taken
largely from the British. and that they nave Deei
w d fnr b any n,te1 Statc Army for four
or five generations. One special fault FOUND re-
are declared to be not only sadly defective but as
administered IN large number OF caSGs sp ~
sed ss f"siSa man Of pan he Hn 0 %rmy @ is
foreign services. and that II the code OF punish
ment should be revised there would be fewer de-
sertions
1t is old adage that X one wants to learn about
the affairs of his home or community he needs
to go away from home But this does not follow
u,i.b IOr ipat no N
Navy Gazette has an article THE United
States Generals" in which It says OF Lieutenant
General John VI. Schoheld. who has been on the
retired list for several months: "ie IS at present
the Major General OF the United States
Army. and has had distinguished career since he
came out OF West Poin; in COMPANY S1 With PHILIP p
high appointments under the Government, was
Secretary Of War under Presdsns J9hns9n and
and experienced of the senior Generals who can be
counted on for service at the present time IN inc
The same journal gives brief biographies of Cen
erals Miles, who. II says. did not pass through
the ordeal of the American Sandhurst and was
intended for soldier: o. o. Howard, Robert
Williams, John r. Brooke, Frank Wheaton Thomas Thomas
H. Ruger speaking of them as the most prominent
soldiers OF the day In the United States, who nave
have dodged sbo. and shell from the enemy's guns
The suicide OF Lieutenant j. A. Swift. Of the
9Th Cavalry, few days was sad loss to
the Army Itself. and specially to those with whom
he had been In close relation. both officially and
socially. many years. He had most remark
able career, and one that shows what ambition.
strengthened with determination, will do. Early in
the seventies he was a telegraph operator In a
ISIS to enlist as private in the Army It was at
time when General Myer decided TO make telcs,
raphy OF the features of the Signal Service ana
to teach It 10 young men who should enlist IN the ne
at corporal,
sergeant second lieutenant. and then TO first
lieutenant For several years he in command
Washington. and during that time he mad troubIe
known to be strictly temperate man. and he did
not smoke nor gamble nor was he known 10 nave
in a most mysterious way and borrowed from all
the men who would lend money TO him.
The report from Washington that Colonel r. r.
A. Crofton had been requested by Secretary La
mont to ask to be retired because OF the numerous
scandals connected with his command has been
much commented upon in Army circles. 1t has been
rumored for some time that Colonel Crofton IN
tended TO ask to be retired under the thirty years
service clause. but one believed that he would
retire by request because OF scandals" Colonel
Crofton is the commander Of the 18th In
fantry, in which regiment there have been some
scandals but no one in the service has intimated
that Colonel Crofton in any way responsible.
and IT is believed that he would quickly resent any
such lmpu,taton as request a,,s for his re rerement
War Department on the defensive and demand a
court-martial, rather than have his hOnora BILE
ord tainted by mere surnse. 1t is true that Cap
tain James A. Maney and Captain a. IIedberg.
whom the former shot couple OF years ago. be-
longed to this regiment: and Lieutenant $. s.
Pague, who dismissed from the Army recently
for attempting 70 shoot Colonel Crofton. an
officer of the regiment. But Colonel Cro.ton
not be held responsible for the inborn disposition
Of such men,
vacancy exists In the chaplaincy at West Point.
and the recent law provides that the chaplain
ri.
is contendcd by Colonel Ernst and others at the
Academy that the duties Of professorship in
terfere with the religious duties of the chaplain.
no person should fll the duties OF both A
change In the law has been urged TO conform with
this concusion-that is to appoint civilian chap
lain for four years and TO appoint professor OF
ethics and geography.
A NEW RUMOR OF A PASSION PLAY.