The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-14
GENERAL JOE WHEELER
Longs for More Active
Military Service.
NO PLACE. OPEN FOR HIM

His Conference With the President on
His Future Status In the Army-No
More Soldiers Allowed TO Go TO Ma.
nila-Naval Officers Who Refuse TO
oAecepu Promotion Over Their Com
panions as TO Enlistment OF
Federal Officers.
Washington, March 1.-General JOS
eph. Wheeler saw the president today
concerning his future status. Subse-
quently he said that while the question
of his remaining in the army had not
been definitely decided,/it was probable
that he would not remain in the SER
vice. He thought the president would
be unable to find a place for him, and
he was not pushing the matter.
But I would like TO remain in the
service" he said, with animation, "and
TO be sent to the Philippines, where
there is some fighting. I would not
care so much 10 stay in the army if
I had to remain in this country"
The war department today issued the
following:
received from General Otis:
Manila is not a safe place for Off
GERS families. Great difficulty is ex-
perienced in caring for those now here
and their safety is one Of the chief
causes of anxiety. Officers families
should remain in the United States.
Otis"
Under such conditions the secretary of
war regrets that no more families Of
officers or enlisted men will be per-
mitted to accompany the troops. Fam
lilies of officers and all non-commis-
stoned officers for which quarters are
| legally provided will be permitted to
| retain their quarters at the posts from
which troops depart, according to the
publications of memorandum circular
dated adjutant generals office, Janu-
ary 18th, 1899.
A copy of this order has been sent
to all agents commanding departments
Of the army.
! TRUE NAVAL HEROES.
Two things, in the opinion of Sec
retary Long, so creditable to the naval
| service have occurred recently that they
| deserve to become public. One is the
| request Of Admiral Higginson, which is
| contained in the following letter:
| Washington, D. c., March 10, 1899.
| ''Sir:-I respectfully request to be al
| lowed to resume my former number on
4
| Kenpff. While deeply grateful to the
| president and yourself for my nomina-
| tioh for work done off Santiago, 1 do
| not regard my own services as so con-
| spicuous as to warrant my advance
| ment, while the other commanding Of
ficers nominated at the same time as
| myself go unrewarded. They were a
| gallant band of naval officers and GER
! tainly deserved we'll of their country,
and if their services are to be unrecog-
nized I desire to share the same fate.
Very respectfully,
"FRANCIS ]. HIGGINSON,
| Rear Admiral"
ITO Hon. ]. D. Long, secretary of the
| Navy"
| Admiral Higginson's name was one
| Of the long list sent in by the presi-
dent for advancement for gallant ser
vice off Santiago. Probably by inad-
vertence Admiral Higginson's name
| was confirmed apart from the rest,
which the senate adjourned without
| confirming.
Secretary Long has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the admiral
| will you let me express my high
appreciation of your very handsome
| and considerate conduct in asking to
| resume your former number on the
| navy list, rather than to accept the ad-
| vancement which places you above
other officers who, for their gallant
services in the recent war, deserved
recognition, but failed to receive it,
owing to the failure OF the senate to
act upon their recommendations sent
in by the president. The spirit which
| you manifest is so admirable that ]
hasten to write you this letter.
The other is the case Of Lieutenant
Aaron Ward, who was recommended
by the board Of promotions for ad-
1 IN af ~; ~
wrote to the department declining ad-
| vancement, inasmuch as it gave him
precedence over his classmate, Lieu
tenant Stauntop, stating that he did
| not feel that the actions in which his
| vessel were engaged were of so great
self Of the opportunity.
TT is impossible" said he, 'for me
willingly to accept a promotion which
might deprive such an officer Of COM
mission in the highest grade"
The recommendation made by the
board Of promotions in the case OF
Lieutenant Ward was not sent in tC
the senate, all the promotions recon-.
mended by that board having been held
back to wait the result OF those which
had been pending since the opening OF
the session and which the senate ad-
journed without confirming.
The war department has asked Judge
Advocate General Leiber for an opin.
| ion as to the authority OF the presiden,
| to enlist general volunteer officers fol
/ services in the Philippines and General
Leiber makes the following reply:
II am of the opinion that under the
proviso referred to general officers OF
volunteers may be enlisted for abso-
1utely necessary purposes in the Philip
pine islands. The president is by the
proviso autporized to enlist officers and
men individually or by organisations
and this. id my opinion, gives him au-
thority to enlist general officers indi-
vidually. I attach no significance tc
the word enlist"
Under this construction of the law
the president can appoint or enlist
as the law says. such general officers
and volunteers as may be necessary
This will mean that the troops in the