The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26
SIX OFFICERS RETIRED
Physical Debility the Ground
of a Military Sen
sation.
UNDER PARAGRAPH NO. 72.
Surprise All Along the Line From
Fort Point to Angel
Island.

All along the military line of San Fran
cisco harbor from the big 12-inch rifle on
the Fort Point hill to the old smooth bores
on Angel Island there is tremor OF
agitation-a premonition that something
is going to happen in the nature of SEN
sation.
Not long since orders came from general
headquarters at Washington, right along
through regular army channels, that
Colonel Graham, Fifth Artillery, U. s. A.,
Presidio, and Colonel Shafter. First
Infantry, q. S. A., Angel Island, should
recommend, under paragraph Y, of the
revised regulations officers of their re-
spective regiments for retirement.
Now, paragraph Y is not designed to
strike terror to the mind OF the civilian,
but to the commissioned officer of the
army it sounds something like the knell of
doom. When its provisions ere invoked
an officer may be retired on account of any
physical disability which renders him in
capable of active service in the field.
An officer may be in possession of the
finest set of intellectual qualities in exist
ence.
He may also occupy the most delightful
quarters at the Presidio or Angel Island
| and evince an appreciation of his sur
roundings highly creditable to an artistic
sense, but if he is incapable of standing
exposure to the weather and the ordinary
fatigue of an active campaign he may be
shelved instantly, and be compelled to seek
| shelter away from the reservation.
| Colonel Graham, it is said, studied over
| his list of Fifth Artillery officers, and,
counting this thing that he observed last
year and something else reported this year,
| finally decided to recommend for retire.
ment, under paragraph 72, Major John A.
Darling, Major Sully McCrea and Captain
| John Mcclellan.
| Colonel Shafter, over at Angel Island,
sized up his officers. He decided that
Captain Pierce, Captain Parker and Lieu
tenant Connolly were not able to undergo
the physical hardships of severe cam
paign.
This information is not official but it is
said to he true nevertheless, and has
caused deal of gossip and comment be-
cause its truth is not disputed.
1t should be explained that retirement
under paragraph 72 implies no dis
credit to the officer retiring. His courage
is not questioned-his conduct is not in
| fOlNcu. Lie DrdVCSt nun dlu tuS ulOSt
| perfect gentleman may be retired under
this rule.
In semi-official observation the colonel
may note that a good officer in the bar
racks has difficulty in mounting horse,
but he has no right to assume that terra-
pin and sherry followed by Burgundy and
roast hare had anything to do with the
difficulty OF getting into the saddle. All
that the colonel is bound to consider un-
der paragraph ~ is whether the officer
could get there on time in proper military
fashion and stay there.
In the infantry Colonel Shafter is bound
to consider whether an officer could march
all day and retain the alertness of body
necessary for outpost duty all the night
following, and then be able to fight on the
ensuing day. Should the colonel in his
| Judgment decide that any officer would
be unable to stand the strain it would be
his duty to recommend retirement under
paragraph 70