The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE PREsIDENT TO REPEAT THE
"SHUFFLRD OF TWO TEARS AGO.

1907 was Used to Promote Eleven Oni-
oera-Tbe Promotions Said to BE Ar
ranged to Foilow Skaters Retirement
Established n New Preoodent-Stah Ohi-
Gers to Return to the Line as Generals.
The news comes from Washington that on
the retirement on Monday next OF Brig
Gen. Bhafter, Major General OF Volunteers.
the President will promote a number OF officers.
who will retire as thoy are promoted. making
way for others, until the single vacancy among
the general officers OF the Army made by
Gen. Skaters promotion has provided for
the retirement as generals OF no fewer than
four colonies. Mr.. Mckinley did tho same
thing In 1897. shortly after his term began:
and soong as tho law makes no direct proyis-
ion for tho retirement OF old officers. veterans
Of the Civil War and OF fierce Indian wars. with
rank conn ensurate with their services no one
will find fault with the proceeding which tho
President 10 said now to contemplate repeating.
As indicated in our Washington dispatches
on Tuesday morning. the President will pro-
mote these officers: Col. Royal T. Frank.
Colonel OF the First Artillery. lately command
ing the Department OF the Gull. and Brigadier-
General OF Volunteers: Col Alexander G. M.
Pennin gton. Colonel OF the Second Artillery.
and also q Brgadier. General OF Volunteers;
Col. Samuel Ovenshne. Of the Twenty
third Infantry. now Brigader-Gensral OF
Volunteers, at homa from tho Philippines
on sick leave; Col. Daniel W. Burke
Just promoted from Lieutenant Colonel OF the
Eleventh Infantry to the com mand OF the Sew
enteenth Infantry: and Col. Louis II. Carpen-
ter. Colonel OF the Fifth Cavalry. and. like all
the others named. except Col. Burke, q Brigc.
6ier- General OF Volunteers OF the Spanish War
After these colonies have been promoted to DO
brlgadier-Renerals.i in an order not announced
yet, and have retired successively under
that provision OF law which allows retire.
ment after thirty years service. the President
will appoint either Major Gen. Lawton. Colonel
in the Inspector Generals Department, or
Major-G Macarthur, Lieutenant Colonel in
the AdjutAnt- Generals Department. both Of
whom are distinguishing themselves in tho
Philippines. whichever OF these officers Is not
promoted In succession to Gen. Shafter Ia said
to be sure OF promotion in January OF next
year when Brig. Gen. Anderson retires for age
The promotions OF Con. Lawton and OF Gen.
Macarthur will be permanent.
The fve officers named are all OF distin-
guished record in the Army. Col Frank
entered the Army as cadet In 1854. and was
promoted Colonel OF the First Artillery on Oct
rs. 1894. Col. Pennington entered West
Point In 1865. and became Colonel OF tho
Second Artillery on Oct. 20. 1890 Col. Oven
shine was appointed to the Fifth Infantry from
civil life on Aug s. 1861 and gained his present
rank on April %. 1895. Col. Burke. whose eagles
as q colonel are hardly ret at home on his
shoulders. enlisted In tho Second Infantry on
June 10. 1858; he was promoted sergeant and
In 1862 was commissioned Second Lieutenant:
he gained his colonelcy In September. COL
Burke holds a medal OF honor. having won the
medal for distin gushed gallantry in action at
sheperdstown Ford. W. Va. Sept 20. 1862
Voluntarily attempt to spike a gun in
the face OF the enemy while serving
as first sergeant. Company B. Second In
fantry" Col. Carpenter is also ''ranker."
having enlisted in the Sixth Cavalry on Nov l.
1861. getting his commission as Second
Lieutenant on July H. 1862. and his colonelcy
on June 2. 1907. Both Col. Pennington and
Col. Carpenter held higher rank in the Civil
War volunteer service than their Army rank.
Col. Pennington was Colonel OF the Third New
Jersey Cavalry. and Col. Carpenter served as
Lieutenant Colonel OF tho Fifth United States
Colored Cavalry; no IL now in command Of
tho Department Of Puerto Principe. Cuba.
In 1897 the President made very remark
cable series OF promotions. On April 2. when
Aajor-Gen. Ruger retired for age. the list
OF general officers stood as follows: Major
Generals. Miles and Merritt: Brgadler- Gen.
erals. Brooke. Otis. Forsyth. Bliss. Coppinger
and Wheaton. On April 2. President Mckinley
promoted the junior Brigader. Wheaton who
EoblEou ou way %. lncu IpTsstn gDI tHe STARS.
and retiredt after him came Bliss. who hold
the rank for two days. and made way for the
senior Brigadier. Brooke. who still holds the
rank. The hrst vacancy among the Brigadters,
caused by the promotion OF Gen Wheaton. was
hsd by the promotion OF Col. Shafter OF the
First Infantry: tho second vacancy was filed
by tho promotion OF Col. Wade OF the
Fifth Cavalry Col. Miner OF the Tenth Cavalry
succeeded Gen. Bliss. and retired at once
Col. Graham OF the Fifth Artillery. the first
artillery Colonel in many years to get tho stars.
Tho vacancy caused by the final promotion OF
Gen. Brooke was filed successfully by COL
Mills Of the Third Cavalry. Col. Carleton OF the
Eighth Calvary and Col. Merriam OF the
Seventh Infantry. The last named is still on
tho active list. Thus one vacancy was used to
promote eleven officers.
Other vacancies In the list OF Brgadier- Gem
erals have been filled in the same way by Mr.
Mckinley. though not on so large a scale. On
the retirement OF Gen. Graham on Sept -
1893. these officers were promoted success
sively: Col. Hawkins OF the Twentieth In
fairy. Col Kent OF the Twenty fourth. Col
Sinclair OF tho Seventh Artillery and Col
Miller OF the Third Artillery; then Col. An
derson OF the Fourteenth Artillery took the
place permanently
Thus the plan which the President Is to fol-
low Is not new. But the promotion to general
officers Of the line OF two staff officers will set
a new example and cause comment and some
heartburninRs. 1t Is well undo rstood that COL
Lawton and Lieut. Col. Macarthur are to be
promoted to line Rensralcies because Of their
distinguished abilities and gallantry. But trans
fer from the line to STAFF positions hitherto has
been looked upon as promotion which should
take the lucky officer out Of the line OF active
service and render him incapa BILE OF future line
work. Places In the staff departments. recoR-
nlzed as soft snaps" have been fought for
with all the energy at command. and staff
officers have looked down genially ON their
friends still In the limo. as they could afford
from their soft berths. II now officers. who
years ago succeeded in getting transferred to
the stan departments. when there Is pleasantly
active service atoot. can again secure promotion
to the line, whose dull routine and hard ork OF
peace they once fed the fact will not be pleasing
to those in tho line who have borne the burden
and heat OF tho day and their permanent
promotion to high rank in the line. though