The San Francisco call., 1897-05-18
BLISS IS MAOE
MAJOR-GENERAL
Brooke Comes Next and
the Programme Is
Filled.
Further Promotions Would
Further Promotions Would
Follow but for Army
Opposition.
A Hint That Wholesale Advance.
ments Might Retire the Re-
tired List.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 17.-Briga-
dier- General Zsnas r. Bliss. commanding
the Department of Texas, was nominated
by the President to-day to be major-geE-
eraI. He will apply for retirement under
the veteran service law when he has been
confirmed.
Brigadier-General John r. Brooke will
be nominated to succeed him, ending the
rapid promotions among the higher Off
GERS. II was the intention of tine Presi-
dent to compliment some other officers
under an agreement similar to that made
| with Forsyth and Bliss, by which they
promised to apply for retirement on secur-
| ing the coveted adva1cements, thu Great
| ing vacancies to oe tllled by their juniors.
| Opposition has developed among army
people, however, to the wholesale system
of retirement and promotions, princ ncipally
| on the ground that criticism against the
| retired list would occur and might event.
ualiy result in secur ring its abolishment.
The President had in view the promo tion
of number of general officers to an actual
rank equal 10 their highest volunteer rank,
but he may abandon it.
| The nomination and retirement OF Gen
eral Forsyth and the immediate appoint
ment of Brigadier- General Bliss as his
successor was pred cted in THE CALL S
| dispatches two weeks ago. General Bliss
will retire i'm Immediately upon his confirma-
ton and Brigadier- General Brooke will
succeed him. General Coppinger may be
similarly provided ior, and soon alter con-
| frmation will retire.
The Army and Navy Register is au-
| thority for this statement. 1t intim ates
| that Coppinger vii; be the next ma jor.
general instead OF Brooke but that Cen
eral Otis is not to be advanced over Gen
| eral Brooke. He will be promoted when
General Merritt retires. This programme
was adopted only after careful considera-
tion by the President.
President McKinley's motive is highly
ommendabIe, and everything taken into
account including the fact that the exc
cution of the plan means a number of un-
Iooked-for promotions in all grades OF the
army. the arrangement will likely be ap.
proved OF by large majority of officers in
the military service. Army promotions IS
a. bject to which the President and Sec
retary Alger have given much serious at
tention. 1t IS the wish of the President
that every officer in the military ivice
should attain before retirement the high
est rank to which he was breveted for con-
spicuous services during the war, and con-
sistentiy with fairness to all concerned
the President proposes to carry out this
idea.
Another desire of the President is that
as far practicable, keeping In mind
justice, all brigadier generals shall become
major-generals before retirement as a re-
ward for long and valuable services. The
President is a firm believer in the princi-
Pile OF seniority, and will observe this
principle with but few exceptions. In
the cases of the present brigader- generals
the promotions of Generals Bliss and Cop
pinger (curiously he omitted mention Of
General Skaters name when referring 20
the prospects) would operate as
temporary hardship to General Brooke,
but that officer under the plan of the
President would be maior-general GER
tainly for over three years, and probably
for more than four years.
War Department official said to-day
that practical point was the good that
would result to many deserving officers
who have long waited for promotion. Un-
der the rule three more major gener-
ais wou be nominated. This means,
course, the promotion of three colonies,
three lieutenant colonies and three second
lieutenants, i'll addition to one officer in
these grades who would be advanced as
the result OF the selection OF aior- General
Forsyth. The official thought this consid-
Grafton one which the army would attach
importance to when it Was remem bered
that in departing from the rule of senior
ity in the case OF General Brooke the hard
ship to that officer was only temporary,
and that in making the proposed excep-
tons the President would reward deserv-
ing officers who figured conspicuously in
the country's last great war.