Evening star., 1898-12-31
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

The past year was marked by many I'M
portant changes in the military and naval
departments of the government, in addi-
ton to those incident to the Spanish war
The increase of the army and navy for the
national defense and the organization of the
volunteer forces are referred to in the gen-
eral review. In the regular military estab-
lishment the principal changes We're in the
various bureau officers. Adjutant General
Samuel Breck was retired in February last
and VAS succeeded by the incumbent, Gen.
Ii. {. Corbin. -Four changes occurred in the
Office Of commissary general, 1t beng hlled
successfully by Gen. W m H. Bell, Gen. q.
+. Gushing, Gen. Wm. Ii. Nasn and Gen.
CharIes ii. Eagan. The last named is now
at the head ot the department. Quarter
master General G. IL. Weeks reured IN
FEBRUARY last and was succeeded IN office
by Gen. Nj. 1. LuuIngton, the incumbent.
1wo general officers OF the line retired
regularly during the year, viz: BrIgadler
GeneIaI j. J. Cupptnger and BrIgadIer Gen
eIaI " IN. II. GraIIsIIn. Co.'s. Ii. >. hawkins
j. +. kent and W m. 3 Kent were promoted
to the sIdde OF DrgauIer general and I'M
medIatcy retired unuer the tnirty years
service clause. Col. Guy V. Henry, the gal
lant CaNalryman, was also advanced to the
SIaue OF DIISadIer general. tie is now in
command of the army in Porto Rico, with
the rank of major general of volunteers.
a vacancy stiL exists in the list of brlga-
dIer SencrdIS. The status of the three
majors general remains unchanged. Gen.
elai Miles Is in command of the army
GrNeral Merritt has been relieved of COM
mard in the Philippines and assigned to the
command of the Department of the East
General Brooke has been relieved from duty
IN Porto Itico and appointed military gov
ernor of Cuba. The entire army was sI1n-
pied with the Krag-Jorgensen rifle during
the year.
In the navy Admiral George Dewey. the
nero OF Manila, advanced by regular nro-
motion t. the head OF the navy. Admirals
Sch!eE ana Sampson received weIl-deseryed
promotions for excellent services in the
W est Indies, and many other officers were
similarly rewarded for meritorious services
Aomiral NJ. Sicard was relieved of COM
ndnd of the North Atlantic squadron at
the outbreak of the war, on account of
sickness, and subsequently served as presi-
dent Of the strategy board. AdmiraIs
Heardsiee Miller. Matthews and Bunce and
several other high ranking officers were
retired on account of age. Civil Engineer
Endicott succeeded Admiral Matthews as
chief OF the bureau of yards and docks and
established a precedent for such appoint
ments outside of the line of the navy.
Early in the year Admiral Dewey succeed
ed Admiral McNair in command of the
Asiatic squadron, and Admiral Howell sue
Ceeded Admiral Selfridge in command of
the European squadron. Later Admiral
hautZ succeeded Admiral Miller in COM
mand of the Pacific squadron. Mr.. Charles
l.. Allen became assistant secretary, in
place of Col. Theodore Roosevelt Admiral
Ammen, the inventor of the ram Katahdin,
died early Ill the year. There were no other
important happenings in the navy except
such as form prominent part of the his
tory of the Spanish war