Evening star., 1897-05-06
RICH ARMY. PRIZES
II {
Major General and Brigadier General
Soon to Be Appointed.
CHANGES THROUGHOUT iHE SERVICE
Gossip Regarding a Very Active
Contest. /
POINTS ABOUT CANDIDATES

Major Gen. Frank R. Wheaton. COM
manding the Department of the Colorado,
at Denver will retire for age Saturday
next. The President will then have the be-
stowal of two rich army prizes-a major
generalship and a brigadier generalship
For the higher office. six brigadier gcner-
ais are eligible. Mentioned in the order Of
seniority they arc Gen. John r. Brooke,
commanding tie Department Of Missouri,
at Chicago: Gen. E. 8. Otis, commanding
the Department Of the Columbia. at Van
ccuver barracks: Gen. James w. Forsyth,
commanding the Department of California
at San Francisco: Gen. z. R. Bliss. COM
manding the Department Of Texas, at San
Antonio; Gen. ]. ]. Coppinger command
ing the Department of the Platte, at Oma-
ha. and Gen. W. r. Shafter, just pro-
moted. who Is unassigned.
All the Indications point to the promo
ton of Gen. Brooke He is the senior in
rank. At the last vacancy in the list of
major generals. caused by the retirement
OF Gen. Ruger early in April Gen. whea-
ton was jumped over Gen. B1 ooke, in or
der to enable the former to retire with the
higher rank. 1t was then supposed that
Gen. Brooke's advancement was only de-
ferred for the time being and that he
would receive the major generalsbiD ON
the retirement Of Gen. Wheaton next Sat
urday
Although there Is no KNOWLEDGE of any
change in this program the friends of Cen
erai Forsyth and General Bliss are evident
y encouraged to believe that there ia q
possibility of the selection of one of the two
over General Brooke. and they are working
accordingly. 1t is claimed for both of these
oH1cers that their cases are similar to that
of General Wheaton, and should be trea ted
the same. This means that they will both
retire before General Brooke. and that they
can both be promoted In turn without de-
I~i mo- h frV, Of flo<
higher grade.
On the other hand. if he is now chosen.
their only chance of promotion would lie in
his death.
and will retire in 1SDS. General Bliss holds
the record for continuous service in the
army. He entered in 1850. and will retire
In 1923. General Brooke will not retire un-
in seniority. will also retire in 1902. The
major generalship will go to one of the
four officers named. with the chances
strongly In favor of General Brooke.
Change In Commands.
These prospective changes will involve a
slight shifting of commands Gen. Brooke
will remain in command ef ME Department
of Missouri. whether he is promoted or not
Gen. Wesley Merrittr. commanding the
DeI Iartment of the East. at New York, has
abandoned his contemplated trip to the
scat of war In the east, and will continue
in his present command.
Gea. Otis will take command of the De-
partment Of the Colorado vice Gen. Whea-
ton, retired, and Gen. Shafter. the Junior
brigadier. will succeed hisn An command of
the Department of the 'Columbfa
The command of the Department of Da-
kota, at st. Paul, which has been vacant
since Gen. Brooke'st trapsfsT TO Chicago,
will be filled by Col Mizner, the senior
colonel of the depar tnSl4,t, }until the ap-
pointment of a new brigadiey general.
T.enty-Scven Candidates for Brisa-
dfer General.
The appointpent of major general will
leave vacancy in the list of brigadier
generals. to be filed by promotion from the
large list of colonies of the line The con-
test for this appointment is much livelier
than that for the higher office. There are
twenty-six active candidates for the pros
Iective vacarcy. and many passive ones,
foping that their modesty may possibly
cure them the prize on the theory of the
office seeking the man.
The three senior coiones are Merriam
and Anderson of the infantry and Wade
o. the cavalry. but their seniority does not
Insure their preferment. The rule of senior
ity was observed in the case of General
Wheaton and Is expected to be followed in
the selection of General Brooke as major
general If adhered to in the matter of
the new brgadier it will mean the pro
motion of Colonel Merriam.
For some unexplained reason, however
the impression prevails that there may be a
departure from the rule in making the new
brigadier general At any rate, all the
candidates are making a vigorous fight
The friends of Colonel Miner and Colonel
Frank are bringing the strongest kind of
political and social influence to bear upon
the President and the Secretary of War IN
Eenalf of those officers
Col. Frank is the leading candidate in the
artillery, and IN advocacy Of his cause it
Is argued that 1t has been many years since
a general officer was selected from that
branch Of the service. and that rs n deserv-
ing officer is now available for selection
that arm of the service should be honored
in preference to either the infantry or the
cavalry.
1t is expected that these two appoint
ments will be made early next week, and
the Forthcoming nominations will be await
ed with great interest by the service people
Regardless of the Individual selections
for major general and brigadier general,
promotions will be made all along the line
from colonel down to second Iieutenants
With the exception of the lowest grade
all the vacancies will be f1llel by seniority