Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-19

of major general, and he named General
Bates for the reason mainly that General
Chafee held only the rank of a brigadier
general.
Adjutant General Corbin has sent :: cable
message to General Chaffee notifying him
of his promotion, and he will receive the
telegram on his arrival al Nagasaki, about
the lSt proXimo.
Under Confederation for Some Days.
The question of giving General Chaffee
rank commensurate with the Importance
! of his command among the allied forces in
China has been under consideration for
some days. the only difficulty in the way
being the question of legal authority for
the appointment in view of the law gov
erninS such matters. According to the
regulations the number of major generals
commissioned in the service is limited to
one for every 12.U9 men in the army
There are three major generals in the
regular army, counting General Miles. who
now has the rank and pay of a lieutenant
general. In fact, ii was first thought that
the elevation of General Miles to this rank
would make technical vacancy in the list
of major generals. Tie law. however. says:
After the date of tie passage of this act
the senior major general commanding the
army shall have the rank, pay and allow
aEces of a lieutenant general" A strict
construction of this law would not, there
fore, contemplate vacancy in the existing
major generalships. In addition to the
three major generals in the regular service
there are now six major generals of volun-
teers. On the basis of 1000 men to each,
this would provide for eight major gener-
ais and 1909 men to spare.
Counting the Marines
The fact of the marines being on shore
duty in China and under command of the
senior army officer there makes an addition
to the practical strength of the army. The
full legal strength of the marine corps is
5000 men, and very large number of these
Will be detailed for shore duty in China 1t
wGs in view of this accession to the strength
OF the army that it was held permissible to
make the addition to the list of major gen.
erals. The increase in the Chinese cxpedi-
tionary force will probably lead to the
designation of two additional brigadier gen.
erals there. to assist Major Gen. Chaffee.
These will probably be selected from the
general officers in the Philippines, with the
chances in favor of Gen. Hall and Gen.
Grant or Gen. Bell.
Gen. ChaRee's Career.
The career of Gen. Chaffee has been ac-
tive and eventful, and his military expert
ence covers a wide field. He was an active
and prominent participant in the war of the
rebellion the Spanish war and various i'm
portant Indian campaigns. He is a soldier
through and through, and has seen service
In every grade of the army, having risen
from the ranks to the grade of major gem
eral.
Born in Ohio on April II, 1912, he entered
the regular army as private in July, 1861,
and served successfully as private, ser
geant and first sergeant, Company K, 9th
Cavalry, to May II. 1863 when, because of
especially brave and meritorious services
he was commissioned second lieutenant, 9th
Cavalry. He was brevetted first lieutenant
July 3, 1853, for gallant and meritorious
services in the battle of Gettysburg Pa -
captain. March 81, 1868. for gallant and
meritorious services in the battle of Din
widdie Court House, Va" major, March 4
1S6S, ''for gallant and efficient services in
engagements with the Comanche Indians
at Paint Creek, Texas, March Z, 1865 and
lieutenant colonel, February %, 1880, for
gallant services in leading cavalry charge
over rough and precipitous bluffs held by
the Indians on the Red river of Texas Au-
gust 30, 1874, and gallant services in action
against the Indians at Big Dry Wash. Ariz,
July II, 1SS2.''
He was appointed brigadier general of
volunteers May 4, 1898, and commanded a
brigade and a division of the 9Th Corps
during the Cuban campaign, and subse-
quently commanded a division in the lst
and in the 4th Army Corps.
General Chaffee had command of the
troops which captured Ell Caney in the
fighting in front of Santiago July / 1S9s
He has since been called the hero of Ell
Caney." General Lawton, in his report of
the engagement of Ell Caney spoke of Cen
e era chaffee as follows: Il consider General
Chaffee one of the best practical soldiers
In the army, and recommend him for spe-
cial distinction for successfully charging
the stone fort mentioned in this report, the
capture of which practically closed the
battle
From December, 1898, until a few months
ago he served as chief of stafr to the gov
ernor general Of Cuba and performed the
important duties falling to his lot in a
manner highly satisfactory to the officials
OF the War Department. Recently he has
been on duty in the office of the ad1utant
general in this city. He was promoted
major general Of volunteers in July, 1888.
and was honorably discharged from that
colonel Of the sth Cavalry May 8, 1889, and
about the same time was made brigadier
general of volunteers.