Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-14
COMING ARMY CHANGES
The Next Retirement Will Be That of the
Oommissary General of Subsistence.
Then Comes That of Gen. Ruger-
speculation as to Their Prob
able Successors.

The next important vacancy in the army
VIII occur on the retirement of Brig Gen.
Michael r. Morgan, commissary general
of subsistence, a few months hence Ii
follows closely the change In the head of
the quartermaster's department caus ed by
the retirement CT Brig. Gen. Bachelor
Gen. Morgans successor will most prob
ably be one of the five assistant commissary
generals, all but one of whom are gradu-
ates of the Military Academy Named in
the order of seniority they are Col. Thos
c. Sullivan Of Ohio, Col. VIM. II. Bell of
pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. Samuel T Cush-
ing Of Rhode Island, Lieut.. Col VIM. A.
Elderkin of New York and Lieut.. Col. W.
ii. Nash. The last named was appointed
10 the army from civil life. All The officers
named have good war records. Col. Sulli-
van will retire in November, 1891, Col.
Bell In January, 1885, Coils. Cushing and
Elderkin in 1893 and Col. Nash in 1SgS.
Gen. Ruger's Retirement.
In less than three months after Gen. Nor
CAMS retirement comes that of Maj. Gen.
Thos. II. Ruger, commanding the depart
ment of the east, and the Presidents per-
sonal representative in the reception and
entertainment of Ii Hung Chang This re-
tiIement will necessitate promotions all
along the line, including the appointment
of major general and brigadier general
lhere are SIX brigadler generals eligible for
the major generaiship, viz: Brooke Wheat
or, Otis, Forsyth, Bliss and Coppinger All
have excellent war records. One of them,
Gen. Wheaton, retires five weeks after
Gen Kruger, and some officers think on
that account that he stands no chance of
selection. Others are of the opinion how
ever, that his early retirement may helm
instead or hurting his chances, as by his
promotion the President could compliment
Two deserving officers. whereas, otherwise
Gen. wheaton would never gain higher
rank Because of his seniority and
other advantages, Gen. Brooke is re-
sarced In army circles as most like
~ to receive the double star He began
ms career as a captain In the 4th Pennsyl-
Van1a Infantry during the civil war and
was brevetted colonel in the army for Get
oS ssome' ana also brigadier general spe-
cihcally Tor distinguished services during
me recent battles of the old Wilderness
and Spottsylvania Court House 9" and ma
Jor genera OF volunteers for Tolopotomy
the fewer than half dozen officers stiII on
the active list who have received COMMITS
sions for specific services
The Brigadier GenernI,htp.
The question who will be the next line
colonel promoted to the rank of brigadier
general is not SO easy to determine, The
senior now, as for long time back, is Col
W. X Shafter, LIST Infantry, who on March
VIII have served eighteen years in that
grade He has been passed over again and
again Tor Junior officers, but II should be
said that some of these have really served
longer in the army.
Next TO him comes Col. Henry G Ner-
rlam, It'll Infantry, who retires in 1901 He
entered the volunteer service from Maine
IN 1857 and was transferred to the ree,l-
lars after the close of the war. The third
In rank On the list is Col. Thomas NJ An
derson, commanding the 14th Infantry. He
entered the regular army early in 1861 and
rose to his present command ten years ago.
He rstires in 1890. Col. r. E A Crofton
comes next but can hardly be considered
among probable candidates. although the
board before which he was ordered at Chi
cago recently for possible disability retire
ment found him not incapacitated for SER
vice.
The next three line colonies are all cav
airy cfficers-Wade of the 9Th, Compton Of
the 4th and Miner of the 10th. This fact
certainly cannot prejudice their chances
considering that since the promotion OF
Col. Forsyth two infantry officers have re-
ceived the star. Their retirements come in
1907. 1900 and 1S'S, respectively. Two in
fantry colonies succeed them-Bartlett OF
the 9th and Cochran of the 9th.