The San Francisco call., 1897-04-18
ARMY OFFICERS
ON THE QU| WE
Leading Appointments
in the Hands of the
President.
Who Will Be the Next Major
General and Brigadier-
General?
Colonel Skaters Nomination Is
Awaiting Its Turn for Con-
firmation.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 1.-THE
CALL correspondent was told to-day that
there was no significance in the delay of
the Senate in confirming the nomination
of Colonel Shafter as igadier-generaI.
There are a number of nominations that
have not been acted upon yet by the Mill
tary Affairs Committee of the Senate.
Who will be- the next major general and
brigadier-general in the army?
This question is being discussed with
much interest in military circles. The
height OF an army officers ambition is to
attain the rank of a general officer.
Coionels aspire to be brigadier-ge generals,
and rigadier-generals look hopefully
forward toadvancement to the grade
of N a jor-g general.
Only few days ago President Mckinley
m ade his first appointment as maior-gen-
eral and brigadier-generaL. For the for
mer grade he nominated Brigadier-Gen-
eral Frank Wheaton ana for the latter
grade Colonel William r. Shafter.
General Wheaton retires the Sth Of next
month. His leaving the active list will
make vacancy in the grade of major
general, 10 which some brigadier-general
will be appointed. The advancement of
an officer of the latter rank will create q
vacancy in that grade. The probabilities
seem to be that Brigadier-General John
r. Brooke, over whose head General
Wheaton was advanced, will be named by
the President as the next major-general.
General Brooke has an excellent record
and is thoroughly efficient and deserv-
inc officer.
In nom mating Colonel Shafter as briga.
der general, President Mckinley estab-
iished the precedent of omoting colonies
in the order of seniority.
Colonel Shafter was the senior colonel
at the time of his selection. Army Off
GERS, therefore, reason that the President
will follow tho same rule in naming the
next brigadier-general. If this is the case
Colonel Henry c. Merriam of the Seventh
Infantry would be the next colonel who
would have the good fortune of getting g
star. A friend of Colonel Merriam is
authority for the statement that that off,
Ger feels confident of being nominated. 1t
is nevertheless fact that a number of
other colonels OF the line are hopeful of
being appointed.
Speculation in military circles is to the
effect that it is probable that the Presi-
dent will especially consider the records
and fitness of three colonels-Merriam,
Anderson and Wade-who stand respec-
lively ones two, three in the order of sem
iority among the colonels of the line.
An officer Of the army, speaking OF the
probabilities yesterday, pointed out the
fact thGt if the President does not adhere
to the rule of seniority it would be possi-
Bile for him to have at mis- disposal the ap-
poin ment OF no less than eight brigadier-
generals in the course of his term. The
officer said that there were a number OF
colonies of the line who were deserving OF
prom otion and who would retire on &C.
count of age in the course of the next four
years. The officer had no knowledge of
the Presidents intentions.
The consensus OF opinion among army
officers is that the President will appoint
General Brooke a major-general when
General Wheaton retires, and that the se-
lection of q brigadier-general will be con-
fined to Colonels Merriam, Anderson and
Wade.
By direction Of the President the follow
ing transfer is made: Post Quartermaster-
Sergeant Horace E. Myrick, now at San
Carlos, Ariz., to the Presidio of San Fran
cisco. Cal, to relieve Post Quartermaster.
Sergeant Homer w. Newman. The leave
of absence granted First Lieutenant f.
Davis, First Cavalry, Department of Cali
fornia, is extended two months by the
Secretary OF War.