New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-24
CONTNG ARMY VACANCIES.
TWO HIGH PLACES SOON TO BE FILLED bf
THE PRESIDENT.

Washington March 23.-Who will be promoted 10
tho rank Of major-general on the retirement OIL
General Ruger. and who will be appointed Drlsa-
dier-general to All the vacancy that will follow!
These questions are being earnestly discussed by
Army officers just now General Rugcr retires on
account Of age April .. II Is known that Brga-
der-General Frank Wheaton is ambitious TO be-
come a major-general. and that he is an applicant
for the vacancy to be caused by General Ruger's
retirement. General Wheaton Is not the senior
brigadier. Brigadier-General John r. Brooke rank
Ing him one number. General Wheaton retires,
however. on May 3. and the argument used by his
friends Is that the President could now reward his
long and valuable services by advancing him to the
rank OF major general. and early in May nominate
General Brooke TO the next higher grade.
The opinion among Army officers to the Presi-
dents course Is by no means unanimous. a con-
siderable number believe that the President will
decide TO advance General Wheaton on General
Rugers retirement. and on the transfer OF General
Wheaton from the active list. in May nominate
General Brooke. General Brooke does not retire
until 1902. The objection is raised TO this PROPOSE
ton that 1t is not just to a senior to promote a
junior over him, ever though the senior will suffer
only temporarily. Promotion of general officers Is
by selection. under the law but II is claimed that
while 1t would benefit General Wheaton to be ap-
pointed over General Brooke. the latter would. in a
military sense. be injured II his seniority Is over
have adopted a concurrent resolution urging the
President and Senate TO promote General Wheaton
TO the rank OF enlargement.
For the vacancy in the grade of brigadcr general
there are numerous applicants An official at the
War Department has jokingly said that every
colonel or artillery. cavalry and infantry seeks
and expects to get the promotion. That IS to say,
there are forty asprants. While this Is somewhat
OF an exaggeraton. it Is fact that. with but few
exceptions all the colonels OF the three arms
terrain the hope that they will be named Many
have filed applications directly through friends.
1t is stated at the War Department that OF those
who have not applied Colonel James F. Wade 5th
Cavalry. is conspicuous. Colonel Wade Is son
OF the late Senator Ben" Wade, Of Ohio. He is
of the abest officers Of his rank in the Army.
According TO report. he applied for the last va
cancy in the grade Of acknowledgements and based
his claim for preferment on his record and eff
cheney. Failing Of selection then, he has decided.
T. IS reported, never again 70 file formal request
for appointment Owing 10 his high qualifications
and rank. his name Is likely. however. to be con-
sidered for the next vacancy by President McKin
10y lie stands No. > in the list OF colonies OF the
line
Army officers on duty at the War Department
who have been asked their opinion Of the proba-
bilities say that the cavalry. artillery and IN
appointment As representing the cavalry. Colonel
inentv mentioned. Speculation centres on Colonel
r. r. Frank as the artilleryman who is most likely
to be preferred by the President. Colonel Graham
* also talked Of
No general officer has been taken from the artil
lery for many years. and II is said that strong
effort is to be made 10 induce the President to Sc
lect from that arm for the next vacancy
As 70 the infantrymen who are spoken OF for
appointment the three seniors are NJ r. Shaier,
II. G. Merriman and T. g. Anderson. Colonel An
derson Is from the Presidents State; and is an
able officer. with an excellent record. other in
fantry officers mentioned as having good char.e
OF selection in the order Of rank. Colonies NJ
y Cochran. J. s. Poland. who commands the mill
ary post at the Ohio capital. and a :. Burt. also
Of Ohio In addition 10 these. among the seniors.
favorable g,Iesses include the names OF Colonies
snyder Bartlett. Van Horn. PeassOn, Jewett and
Bates