The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-04
Dewey Now Ranking officer in the
Philippines, but Not Likely to Cause
Friction with General Otis.
HOBSON'S REMARKABLE JUMP
HIS PROMOTION AMOUNTS TO ESQ
NUMBERS IN THE LINE.
Both Indiana Regiments to BE Mus
tered Out Under the New Army
Reorganization Law.

| WASHINGTON, March 3.-The President
to-day sent to the Senate the nominations
of Rear Admiral George Dewey, TO be ad-
| miral of the navy under the act approved
March 2, 1899, and Brigadier General Elwell
S. Otis, L. s. A, to be major general by
brevet, to rank from Feb 4. 1899, for mill
tary skill and most distinguished service IN
| the Philippine stands. The Senate at once
confirmed the nominations.
| The President also nominated Col. Fred
| C. Ainsworth, to be chief of the Record and
Pension Office, with the rank of brigadier
| general; John Tweedale, of Pennsylvania,
| TO be assistant chief of the Record and
| Pension Office with the rank of major
| general; John Webre, of Louisiana, to be
naval officer of customs in the district OF
| New Orleans, La.
Secretary Long to-day cabled Admiral
Dewey as follows: "Heartiest congratula-
tions on your deserved promotion as ad-
miral" Late this afternoon Secretary Long
sent the following cablegram to Admiral
Dewey Immediately upon being notified of
the confirmation: president adds his con-
| gratulations your confirmation.
Secretary Alger sent the following con-
gratulatory message to Major General Otis
at Manila: You have been nominated and
confirmed major general by brevet in the
| regular army. The President wishes mes
| sage of congratulations sent you, in which
| / cordially join.
| Admiral Dewey will rank Major General
! Otis, and when the army and navy COM
| bine operations in the Philippines his orders
as the ranking officer, it is said, Will have
TO be obeyed. 1t is not believed, however.
that there is any danger of friction between
| Admiral Dewey and General Otis, as the
former thoroughly understands the rights
of the military, and will undoubtedly, when
| the two services act together, fully consult
| the military commander as TO the course to
be pursued. 1t has been determined at the
| department to leave to Admiral Dewey the
selection of the kind of uniform which he
desires to wear. Admirals Porter and Far
ragut were given this privilege, but neither
had much opportunity for wearing them.
But, as Admiral Dewey will remain affoat
for some months, it is expected that he will
Immediately take steps for the purchase of
uniform, distinctive of his new grade, and
yet strictly in accordance, in some of its
features, with the regulation uniform
| which he has worn all his life His shoul-
der straps will be decorated by four stars
instead of two, the end stars being embroid-
cred over foul anchors, seven-eighths of an
inch long. AS soon as Admiral Dewey
hosts the flag of an admiral the ships of
his squdron will thunder salute of seven
teen guns and the drum corps will sound
four rufiles and iourishes.
Under instructions from the President an
army retiring board mas been appointed by
the secretary of war TO meet at Manila,
Philippine islands, at the earliest prac-
ticable date upon the call of the President
Al
be ordered before 1t by the commanding
| general of the Department Of the Pacific.
The detail for the board follows: Maj. Gen.
Henry w. Lawton, Mai Gen. Arthur Mac
Arthur, Brig Gen. Robert II. Hall, Brig.
Gen. Lloyd Wheaton, Brig. Gen. Samuel
Ovenshine. Maj. William H. Corbrusier,
surgeon United States army; Maj. William
H. CardweN chief surgeon United States
| volunteers; Maj. William ID. Crosby, brigade
| surgeon United States volunteers; Capt.
| Frank r. Keefer, assistant surgeon United
States army and Capt William e. Birk.
| himer. Third United States Artillery re-
corder General Lawton has not yet reached
Manila
| The Presidents nomination of Richmond
Pearson Hobson to be advanced ten num-
bers from No. l on the list of assistant
naval constructors is said by naval officers
to constitute the greatest material promo
ton as a recognition of gallantry in the
history OF the naval service 1t will make
Hobson captain at the age of thirty. His
advancement amounts to 25o numbers in the
line of the navy, which is remarkable in
compar rson with the single number secured
by Admiral Dewey, eight numbers by Ad-
miral Sampson and from three to five each
by other officers during the war with Spain.
When IL was proposed 10 promote Hobson
TO the foot of the grade of lieutenant COM
manders, the jump amounted to about 80
numbers only, but under the nomination
made to-day Hobson skips over all the lieu
tenant commanders and goes nearly TO the
TOP of the commanders list so far as rela-
tive rank is concerned. OF the seven naval
constructors who continue superior TO him
three will speedily retire-Constructor
Feaster next August. Constructor Varnum
in April next year and Chief Constructor
Hichborn, who, under the new personnel
law, ranks as rear admiral on March t.
1901 on that date Constructor Hobson viii
take the rank and pay Of n captain. Not
until Aug. II following will he reach the age
Of thirty-one. The junior captain OF the
navy on Jan. l was Capt. Edwin White.
commanding the flagship Philadelphia, and
he was fifty-six years old when he re-
ceved his commission. Constructor Hob
son, therefore. gains about twenty-six
years In the ordinary course OF promo
tions in the naval construction corps. how
ever, Hobson will not reach the senior po-
sition OF constructor before 1922, or ten
years before his own retirement. and in the
meantime he will remain twenty-one years
in the grade OF captain. which is nearly
three times as long as officers ordinarily re-