New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-05
CHANGES IN THE ARMY.
GENERAL SKATER TO COMMAND THE DEPART
MENT OF THE EAST IN GENERAL MER-
RITT'S ABSENCE

GENERAL SKATER TO COMMAND THE DEPART
MENr OF THE EAST IN GENERAL MER-
RITTS ABSENCE.
Washington. May (SpeciaD-The War Depart
ment to-day anticipated the retirement tomorrow
Of Major-Genera Wheaton. Among other orders
issued selecting an officer to command the
Department of the East while Major-General Mer-
rift is absent in Europe inspecting the armies
there especially those of Turkey and Greece
Brigadier-General Shafter. who has just been con-
frmed by the Senate. was detailed as General Mer-
ritts relief. He will have headquarters on Gov
ernors Island and have under his command the
troops and forts on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
also those In upper New-York in Vermont. in
PENNSYLVANIA on Chesapeake Bay. those near
Washington etc. His Department is the most I'M
portant in the Army. 1t contains more troops ana
stations than any other In the service General
Shafter will remain at Governors Island until
General Merritt returns from Europe He VIII
then be ordered to assume command or the De
partment of the Columbia or that Of Dakota. the
former command vacated to-day. when Cen
eral Otis was ordered TO proceed TO the depart
ment of the Colorado The recent transfer to Chi
cago Of Brigader General Brooke Ieft Vacahc!
In the Department Of Dakota.
II was said at the War Department to-day that
the President has virtually decided TO appoint
Brgadier- General Brooke to the vacancy IN the
grade of major general which General wheaton
retirement tomorrow will create. The latter OIL
Ger advanced over the IOli1ef oiH! "" 49,
ago TO enable him to retire with the higher RAM
secretary Alger has not made a positive statement
IN the effect that General Brooke Will now De
nromoted nor has definite announcement peeh
made at the White House. but sufficient was saio
at the War Department this afternoon TO warrant
the statement that the nomination OF Ge1 ne la
brooke will 20 to the Senate in the next rev uays
This officer will remain the head OF me RepaI'
ment OF Missouri. with headquarters az
Orders issued by Secretary AIger TINS afternoon
reiieve General Otis from the command OF 'ne
he 20 mi
General Wheaton's successor III the Department Oh
Colorado Until the new ma1or-geheral qHai ,es
he senicr colonies in the Department Of Dakota
and the Columbia will have charge Oh 'hoSe coii
mands. -,. -. .,.o,o Tho oo,oneIs
a lively contest is going on among inc coloheIs
NJ the line for the brigadiershp, for which the pro-
Tnotion Of General Brooke will make vacancy.
twenty-six active candidates for the place Colonies
Misner and Frank are reported 10 nave Ine most
numerous political and social supporters. Ihey Ie
moi the seniors in their grade. however. ana TINS
fact will operate to their EMBARRASSMENT army
oicers believe as both the President and Secretary
Aieer favor the idea of selecting general ofhcers
from colonies at the top of the list: the rule OF
seniority was observed In the selection OF General
SKATER For the special reason that General
Wheaton would retire in a month the rule was
over General Brooke. The three senior iine colonies
are Merrman. Anderson and Wade. ana II is POSI-
HE that the President will make selection from
these II Is to be said. however that particularly
Frank This officer has an excellent record, and 1T
has been pressed upon the attention OF the Presi-
dent that not for many years has a general onlcer
been chosen from the Artillery branch OF the Army
Available for selection this of the service should
sighted