The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-27
NAVAL PROMOTIONS.
They VIII Re Aided by Enforced Re-
tireraents During the Year.


1t is fortunate that the naval personnel
does NOT depend On retirements during
the year to cause that even flow CT pro-
motion" which has been so much discuss
ed in congress. The rctirements in all
grades and corps ale 50 small that there
would be few. If any, promotions in the
higher ranks, and but for the provisions
of the personnel act a stagnatiCn void
prevail equaliug the most dish"2r-"-. ing
period Of naval advancement.
The personnel act, however,. relieves
what would be unusual stagrajiOn. and
there will be next June q large ruI2Uer Of
enforced retirements, especially IN the
grade of lieutenant comEIaHde" and per-
haps several in that Of captain. The
highest ranking officer rel.ngui>LinE ac-
tive service. during the year is Rear Ad-
miral Winfield Scott Schley, NOW c0m-
handing the American naval forces On
the south Atlantic station. Ad@i"al
Schley closes his years of naval service
on Oct. 9, and few months later Admi-
raj Sampson gives way also for he case
of the retired list.
In the line there is but one other regu-
lar retirement, that Of Captain " NJ. Dy-
er, who commanded the cruiser Baltimore
during the Manila bay fight and WHO on
his return to this country was presented
with n sword by the people Of Bli:imcre.
Captain Dyer goes on the lis Feb -,
aftermany years of excellent service.
In HE medical corps Medical Director
W. N Schofcld retires April %, this be
ing Il e only age retirement among the
dOctots during the year. Pay Director II.
G.. C'lby retircs March > and Pay In
spcctor J. Porter LOOMS. on duty at An
napoliS, retres March 5 also. Pay In
spector George Cochran retires April $,
Pay Director O. II. Griffing April n and
Pay Directors u. A. Smith and c. II. Ell
dredge in September. There is but one
retirement in the rank of chaplain. that
OF the Rev. W o. Holway, who goes out
on June .. In the construction corps the
only officer retiring is Admiral Philip
HichbOrn. who goes out with the close OF
the presidents term on March f. Civil
Engineer +. G.. Assessor retires June ;.
There are number of warrant officers
who also retire, but none in the marine
corps.
From the present outlook there will be
more enforced retirementS in the navy at
the close of the fiscal year to cause the
HOW VI ITDAlOtigD INIu at any DPtsOQ
since the adoption of the personnel act.
Few naval officers die, and none seems
to resign, so that to create the dow de-
sired it will Oe necessary to retire per-
haps a dozen lieutenant cor'.nanders.
There is no great injustice worked to
this class, however, as all secure the
rank and pay Of the next higher grade
on giving up active service.
Much difference OF expert opinion ex-
lists regarding the merits of this provision
OF the act which relegates to the retired
list often officers who are capable of
performing active duty for many years
and creates a pension list TINT some
think the government should not bear.
There seemed no other way. however. OF
making promotion in the higher grades
quicker and Surer, although in many in
stances officers so mustered out are thor
oughly competent TO continue active serv-
ice until they reach the age limit of 60
years. few officers prefer being retir-
ed to active service. but this number is
cOmpaf atiTely snall.-BaltimOre Sun.