New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-07
SEVEN ARMY CORPS FORMED.
ORGANIZATION OF THE REGULAR AND
VOLUNTEER FORCES.
xAJoR,cENERALs OF THE REGULAR ARMY BE-
LEcrEp FOR COMMANDERS.

fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRCNE.I
Washington May 6-The President has de-
eided to divide the amalgamated army OF resu
lars and volunteers into seven corps. numbered
consecutively from one 10 seven, inclusive II
Is proposed that General Miles shall continue IN
command OF the entire Army. the corps COM
manders being in the order OF their rank. as
follows:
RITZ FIT c0FD'-MA'''- General WASIA1 ~'.,
Second corps-Ma,or General JOHN R. BROOK
Third corps-Major General JOSEPH c. BRECK-
Fourth Corps-Ma1or-General ELWELL S. OTIS.
PiSGER W. - ''
: Sixth Corps-Major General WILLIAM r. SHAT
TER.
Seventh Corps-Msjor- General WILLIAM NJ.
GRAHAM.
The remaining six major generals in the order
OF their rank will be assigned 10 command
divisions. unless one or more Of the corps COM
manders as above designated, waive their rights
or prefer TO retain command of Army depart
ments. which may be the case with Generals
Merritt and Otis. In that event the generals
, will move UP In regular order, vacancies at the
bottom OF the list of corps commanders being
filed successfully by Major Generals James F.
Wade, Henry c. Merriam. James II. Wilson.
Fitzhugh Lee William ]. Sewer and Joseph
Wheeler.
The tentative organization OF the Seventh
Army Corps. involving thorough admiXture Of
regulars and volunteers by single regiments
from various parts Of the country. described in
these dispatches last Sunday. has also received
the UNQUALIFIED approval OF the President and
will be carried into effect At least one regl-
inert OF regulars will he attached 10 eacn
division, the remaining eight being volunteer
organizations from as many States. corps
will consist Of twenty-sever regiments or. IN
few Instances. OF twenty-five, OF 1000 men
each. These, in turn. will he divided into nine
brigades and in each Of the three divisions
there will be three brlgaGes
One corps probably the Third. under Major
General Breckenridge. will go into camp oppo-
site Washington. With its headquarters a. FANS
Church, Va Another will assemble on Long
Island, a third at Chiokamauga National Park
and q fourth at Tampa the other three centres
Of mobilization not having yet been determined.
although Fort Sheridan. Columbus Barracks and
Sea Grit are under favorable consideration
CANNOT HOLD BOTH OFFICES.
The action Of Fitzhugh Lee. Joseph Wheeler
and Theodore Roosevelt in appearing at the
War Department to-day and taking the oath or
ONCE, the first TWO receiving their commissions
as major generals and the latter as lieutenant
colonel are believed 10 have vacated the posi-
tons which they have held up to this time
Army accounting officers hold that the salaries
Of these officers begin at noon to-day General
Lee and General Wheeler will receive SIoOU
year instead OF their present salaries OF S4ooo
and $1,000. respectively. In view OF the fac'
that Senator Sewell. Of New-Jersey. has an
nounced his intention TO retain his seat In the
Senate after accepting the grade and duty Of
h4ny llQd n
law OF July IL, 1870. which was passed at the
suggestion Of President Grant. and which Is
given In Section 1922 Of the Revised Statutes
as follows .s.s-
hold any civil office whether by election or APP
pointment. and every such ofticer who accepts or
cease 10 be an officer of the Army. and his COM
mission shall be thereby vacated.
The legal authorities Of the Army express the
emphatic opinion that under this statute Gen.
eral Wheeler cannot legally continue to repre-
sent Ala bama in the House after he receives his
commission to-day. and that Mr.. Rooseveits
functions as Assistant Secretary OF the Navy
terminated. In regard TO General Lee, Section
1923 Of the Revised Statutes. enacted March 30.
1865, provides that
ANY officer Of the Army who accepts or holds any
appointment In the Diplomatic or consular service ,
OF the Government snail be consaered as s naY' h
resigned MS place III Army anu ~ s'iol4 NC
filed vacancy
II there were any conceivable method OF evad-
ing these explicit statutes. the Army regulations
themselves appear to close the last loophoe.
Under the law. the Volunteer Army is governed
by the Regular Army regulations. and Regula-
ton so Is as follows:
An officer OF the Army on the active list who &C
cepts exercises the functions of civilian thereby
ceases be officer of the Army. An officer on
the active list cannot lawfully accept or hod any
Office created by State statute. whether In Sta g
military organizations or otherwise.
Some question was raised to-day to the
legality Of Mr.. Roosevelt's commission lieu,
tenant-coonel. no nomination for the office hav-
ing been made by the President or confirmed
by the Senate. This developed the fact that
under the Volunteer Army law. Senatorial
sanction is not necessary for regimenta officers
and that in the case OF the three regiments OF
mounted r.aemen from the Nation al large the
Secretary Of War has complete control. under
authority given him by the President. 1t was
under this provision o. law that DR.. Wood, Of
the Army was commissioned colonel by tbs
Secretary Of War without any action by the
President. In the case Of troops furnished by
States or Territories the regimental officers a p
pointed by the Governors Will be received inc
the service without further formaty.
WHEELER AND LEE SWORN IN.
GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE ALSO REPORTS FoF
DUTY WITH THE VOLUNTEER ARMY.