The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-11
Brig. Gen. John r. Brooke to
Assume Command
OF the Army While Gen. Miles
Is in Europe.
QUITE A STRUGGLE ON
For the Place Made Vacant by
Gen. Wheaton.
Gen. Forsythe and Others in
Line of Promotion.

Chicago. MAY 11.-Brigadier General
John B. Brooke. commanding the de-
partment of the Missouri, is absent
from his post He is in Washington by
orders OF the secretary of war and 1t IS
said to assume the command OF the
army.
No such distinction has ever been be-
slowed upon an officer of his rank since
the days just after the revolutionary
war. when for a year lieutenant was
in command of the remnant Of the con-
tiHenJal army. General Miles, the sen
lor major general, is off for Europe TO
get a sight OF war broad and General
Merritt has been granted d leave OF ab-
Sance to cross the seas. This leaves the
army without a major general as MAJ
General Wheaton was retired last sat
1Tday under the longevity act GenelaI
Brooke not Vet being ranked as major
general, Is ordered to Washington as
bTigadier general, presuma bly, to take
command of the army.
General Brooke is the senior brigadler
general of the army and his selection
for the command of the army in the
absence of Generals Miles and Merritt
abroad, would indicate that he would
be the next major general the success
or Of General Frank Wheaton.
Washington, May 11.-Gen. Brooke
Of the department of the Missouri is
in Washington. He is stopping at the
home Of Senator Quay. When seen in
regard to the report that Gen Brooke
is TO assume command of the army
during the absence of Major General
Miles, General RuggIes, the adjutant
general Of the army, said that no such
order had been issued by the war de-
partment- When asked. however, if
such an order was in contemplation, he
said il was a matter which he preferred
lot TO discuss for publication.
The army at present is without
commander General Miles is on the
ocean and does not expect to return to
this country for several months. Sec
Tetary AIger is nOminally in command,
though orders are being issued by the
adjutant general When General Miles
received permission to go abroad, it
was believed that the army would get
along during his absence without a
commander, though the secretary of
war expected to transfer Gen. Merritt
10 Washington in case the services of a
Domma nding officer were needed.
About the time General Miles decided
to go abroad, General Merritt, the COM
1nander of the department of the east.
asked for a leave of absence and per
mission to go across the sea. This was
granted
It is believed by army officers that
General Brooke has come here on a
matter of much greater Importance to
himself than the temporary command
of the army. General Wheaton retired
Saturday and the president has under
consideration the appointment Of a ma
jOr general. General Brooke is justly
entitled to this honor. He was the
senior officer when General Ruger re-
tired and was then entitled to promo
ton. Brigadier General Wheaton was
to retire so soon, however, that it was
decided to promote him so that he
might retire with the highest rank. 1t
was tacitly understood then that Gen
eraI Brooke should have his promotion
when General Wheaton retired. Cen
eral FOrsythe. however, who COM
lnands the department of California,
and General Bliss. who commands the
department Of Texas. have now both
applied for the vacant major generals
place on the ground that they Will re-
lire before General Brooke and that
they should be permitted to retire with
the honor of highest rank for the same
reason that it was a month ago given
10 General Wheaton.
While General Brooke agrees that it
was well enough to adopt this plan in
the case of General Wheaton, who had
only a month to serve, it would not be
fair to apply it to General F'orsythe or
General Bliss.