The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-04
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Changes During the Past Year
Growth of the Retired List.
New york Evening Posi-,

NEW 1OTk Evening ROSL.
An examination of the Army Register
brings out number of interesting facts ir
regard to the changes during the past year.
In all no less than fifty-three officers have
been transferred to the retired list since last
January, of whom no less than twelve were
generalS-an unpreCedentediy large number
for so short space of time. During the
same period seven officers, one captain and
six leutenantS have been diShOnOrabiy dis
missed, and sixteen officers on the active
list have died. The retired list has been de-
creased by the death of forty-one officers of
every rank from major general to second
lieutenant, among whom was the sole re-
tenant Michael Moore The usual increase
of the retired list is, therefore, quite small
this year. being only twelve, which makes
it about 665 strong, whereas in former years,
owing to additional retirement laws, the
the increase has been very marked It is
probable that in the future the retired list
will STAY at about it's present size until
1903, when it should considerably increase
with the passing to it of many war vet
sixty years OLD. Most of the retirements
this year have been voluntary or for dis
ability, and if this were not the case, pro-
motion would have proceeded very slowly,
as comparatively few officers reached the
age limit. On the whole, however, it has
been an excellent year for promotion, ex-
cept in the hopelessly blocked artillery as
thirty-eight second lieutenants of infantry
and twenty-three of cavalry have reached
the next highest rank. There are still a
number of this years graduates of West
Point unprovided with second lieutenancieS,
all of whom are now attached to regiments
as additional second lieutenants. The num-
Der of designations, although only seven. is
much larger than usual, and shows now
greatly men in the United States service
cling to their commissions. particularly as
several of these were forced to resign to
avoid court-martial and probable dismissal
In other services designations are of daily
occurrence. 1897 has also been one of the
few years since the war in which no officers
and men have lost their lives while on duty
with the exception Of a private on mali
service in the Yellowstone Park this week
1t has been a very quiet year on the whole
although the troops have done more prac-
tice marching than for some years, and
number of companies in various parts of
the country have been called out because of
Indian disturbances in four or five States
In putting Capt. David l.. Brainard, of
the subsistence department, in charge of
the supply and food part of the Klondike
relief expedition, Secretary Alger chose the
man who has been farther north than any
Brainard. then cavalry sergeant. was a
member of the Greedy expedition, and ac-
companied Lieutenant Lockwood on his
dash for the pole for which services he
received his second lieutenancy from Con-
gress direct in 1856. His Arctic experience
under Greedy should be of invaluable aid in
Alaska, particularly in knowing what not
to do. Major Louis II. Rucker, Fourth
Cavalry, whom General Merriam has ap-
pointed to the command of the expedition
itself. reached his present rank this year
and has had considerable experience in
hard winter Indian campaigns. He is man
Of vigorous physique and ins4red to hard
q number of applications for this detail
from officers eager to break the monotonv
of garrison life by trip TO the Klondike
Khe army has been so long q victim az