Milford chronicle., 1901-02-01
laval PROMOTIONS.


ney Win ne Aided ny EBf0reed Re-
tirements During the YeRR.
It is fortunate that the naval personnel
does not depend on retirements during
the year to cause that even flow Of pro-
motion" which has been SO much discuss
ed In congress. The retirements in all
grades and corps are so small that there
would be few, if any, promotions in the
higher ranks, and but for the provisions
Of the personnel act a stagnation would
prevail eQualing the most disheartening
period OF naval advancement.
The personnel act, however, relieves
what WI be unusual stagnation, and
there will be next June a large number Of
enforced retirements, especially in the
grade Of lieutenant commander and per-
hGps several in that of captain. The
| highest ranking officer relinquishing ac-
tive service during the year is Rear Ad-
miral Winfield Scott Schley, now COM
| manding the American naval forces on
the south Atlantic station. Admiral
Schley closes his years of naval service
on Oct. 8, and a few months later Admi-
| raj Sampson gives way also for the ease
of the retired list.
In the line there is but one other regu-
lar retirement, that of Captain n. NJ. by
er, who commanded the cruiser Baltimore
during the Manila bay fight and who OF
his return to this country was p N'entec
with a sword by the people Of Baltimore
Captain Dyer goes on the list Feb. ~
after many years Of excellent service.
In the medical corps Medical Director
w. X. Schofield retires April %, this be
ing the only age retirement among tn
doctors during the year. Pay Director Il
G. Colby retires March and Pay In
spectOr J. Porter LOOMS, on duty at An
naDolis, retires March also. Pay In
spector George Cochran retires April {
Pay Director G. H. Griflng April - an
, Pay Directors d. A. Smith and G. IL. E
dredge in September. There is but on
retirement in the rank Of chaplain, tina
Of the Rev. w. 0. Holway, who goes ou
on June 8. In the construction corps tn
only officer retiring is Admiral Phil
HichbOrn, who goes out with the close {
the presidents term on March 4. Civ
Engineer p. G. Assessor retires June
There are a number OF warrant Officer
who also retire, but none in the mariT
corps.
From the present outlook there will
more enforced retirements in the navy 1
the close of the fiscal year to cause Il
flow Of promotion than at any periC
since the adoption of the personnel &C
Few naval officers die, and none seen
y to resign, so that to create the flow d
sired it will be necessary to retire pc
haps a dozen lieutenant commander
There is no great injustice worked
this class. however, as all secure Il
n rank and pay Of the next higher graz
u on giving up active service.
n Much difference Of expert opinion e
u lists regarding the merits of this provisi
n of the act which relegates to the retir
u list often officers who are capable
performing active duty for many yea
and creates pension list that sol
think the government should not be-
n There seemed no other way. however,
U making promotion in the higher grad
n quicker and surer, although in mary
~ stances officers so mustered out are tn
n oughly competent to continue active Sc
III ice until they reach the age limit Of
years. A few officers prefer being RET
ed to active service. but this number
comparatively small.-Baltimore Sun.