The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-12
A PECULIAR CONDITION.
AMERICAN ARMY NOW WITH
OUT A COMMANDER.
Some Interesting Gossip Concerning
General Brooke's Chances For
Promotion.

Chicago. May 1l.-Brigadier Genera
John r. Brooke, commanding the depart
merit of the Missouri. is absent from hi.
post He is in Washington by order o.
tie secretary OF war and, it is said, t
assume the commend 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 tor year lieutenant was in com
I rna-d of the remnant of the continental
/ army. General Miles, the senior major
/ general. IS off for Europe to get a sight
OF war abroad, and General Merritt has
/ been granted a leave of absence to cross
/ the seas This leaves the army without
a mayor general. as Major General
/ Wheaton was retired last Saturday under
| the ion1eriIy rule. General Brooke not
| being ranked as major general. is or
dered to Washington as bri2adier gen
eral- presumably 10 take command of the
army
Il is said in army circles that. General
is to be disputed by-two of his juniors in
years of service. Brisadfer General ]. W.
Forsyth, Tony. formerly of General
Phil Sheridan's staff, and Brigadier Gen
eral Zenas r. Bliss. only recently APP
pointed from a colonelcy. They submit
that if General McCoOk- over-sloughed
Ru=er a year ago, because he would re-
tire in a month, and Wheaton this year,
Brooke at this time, as he retireS in 1902,
while Bliss goes out in 1898 and Forsyth
in 1899 General Miles. who ranks them
all will not be retired until 1906
NO ORDER ISSUED.
Washington. May n.-General Brooke
commander of the department of the
Missouri. is in Washington. He is stop
ping at the home of Senator Quay. When
seen in regard to the report that Cen
eral Brooke is 10 assume command of the
army during the absence of Major Gen
eral Miles in Europe. General Ruggles. the
adiutant general of the army. said that
no such order had been issued by the war
department. When asked. h )wever, ii
such an order was in contemplation he
sail it was matter which he preferred
not 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 Tor
several months; Secretary Alger Is nomln-
ally in command. though orders are be-
ing issued by the acknowledgement. When
General Miles received permission to go
abroad 4 was believed that the army
would get along during his abscnce with
out q commander though the. secretary
of war expected to transfer General Mer-
rift to Washington in case the services
of commanding officer were needed.
About the time General Miles decided 10
go abroad General Merritt the COM
mander of the department of the east.
asked for leave of absence and permits
sion to go beyond the sea. This was
granted.
1t is believed by army officers that Gen
eral Brooks has come here ~ matter
of much greater Importance to himself
than the temporary command of the
army. General Wheaton retired Saturday
and the president now has under consid-
Grafton the appointment of a major-.en-
eral. General Brooke is justly entitled
to this honor. He was the senior officer
a month ago, when Gener Ruger retired
and was then entitled to promotion
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 |
then that General Brooke |
should have his promotion when General |
retired
General Forsyth. however. who COM /
mands the department of California. and !
General Bliss. who commands the de- !
partment of Texas. have now both an |
piled for the vacant major-generalship on |
the ground that they viii retire before |
General Brooke and that they should be
permitted to enjoy the honor of high
rank for the same reason that It was a
month ago given to General Wheaton
While General Brooke's friends say
hat it was well enough to adopt this
plan in the case of General Wheaton, who
had only a month to serve. it would
lot be fair to apply it to General Forsyth
)r General Bliss.