The age-herald., 1901-02-08
NEW ARMY OFFICERS
 CHOSEN ON MERIT

Washington. February 7.-(Special )-Ev- cry one of the men appointed general offi- cers by the President under the provisions of the army law was chosen because of his services during the war with Spain. with, perhaps, one exception. The only idea of the President was to recognize merit, and as a general rule the selections made gave satisfaction, though, of course, off, cers who were not promoted will find cause for unhappiness. The exception referred to is Lieutenant General Miles, who was pro- noted to be Lieutenant General, despite the attitude of unfriendliness to the Presi- dent and the Administration of the War Department, because he was the senior Major General of the army, and under a law passed at the last session of Congress was enjoying the emoluments of a Lieuten- ant General. It does not follow that Lieu tenant General Miles will continue on the active list until his retirement by operation of law when he reaches 64 years, on August 8, 1903
 Under the existing law the President has authority to retire any officer in the service when he reaches the age of 62, and if the President deems it best for the service to retire General Miles on August 8, this will be done. It Is understood that it is not the Presidents present purpose to do this, but e if General Miles gives for criticism before that date he may be retired. The President has been anxious to give some additional recognition to Major Generals Brooke and Otis, General Otis seeming to chiefly deserve promotion. Each of these offers retires before General Miles, Gen. eral Brooke July 2l, 1902, and General Otis on March 25, 1902. It may be that General Miles will be retired and Generals Otis and Brooke be successively promoted to Lieutenant Generals, but that is a mat. ter for future consideration.
 The promotion of Brig.-en. Samuel B. H. Young to be Major General, the first of the three new ones just appointed, is due to his work in Cuba during the Spanish war, and to his excellent record in the Philippines. Then he was the senior of both MacArthur and Chaffee, the other major generals just appointed, and retires two years before Chaffee and four years before Macarthur. By reason of his appointment General Young would assume command in the Philippines as soon as confirmed, but he has been ordered home and will prob- ably be assigned to duty at San Francisco, the most important port in this country, to succeed General Shafter, who Is to be made major general on the retired list by the new law, and whose appointment to that position will be delayed until General Young arrives from the Philippines or some high ranking officer is available for serv- ice in San Francisco.
 The appointments of general officers show the Presidents policy of disregarding the usual demands of seniority and making se- lections that seem to be justified by the well being of the army and the records of the men promoted. For example Brigadier- Generals Wade and Merriam who rank all were overlooked because they had not per- formed services that seemed to warrant their appointment just now. However, one major generalcy has not yet been filled, and perhaps Merriam or Wade may get it, though it is not likely. This policy of the President shows the futility of considering the probable future commanders of the army by eliminating the men who soon re- tire. The selection of lieutenant generals, as vacancies occur, will be made in accord ance with services performed,
 Chaffee, who is now a Major General ot Volunteers, and is promoted to be a Major General in the regplar army, is only
 
 Arthur, now a Major General of volun- teers promoted to be a Major General after Chaffee, is a Brigadier General of regulars and outranks Chaffee a Major General of Volunteers. Then there are two even more striking instances. Leonard Wood, who is made a Brigadier General, is a Major General of Volunteers, but only Captain and assistant surgeon in the paufTf1a Ha vviN hav tWe three years a general officer, for he does not retire until 1924. Then there is J. Frank lin Bell, Captain of artillery but at present a Brigadier General of Volunteers who is the last of the Brigadier Generals of regulars appointed. His selection made, jumping, he does, hundreds of officers his seniors, because the President and the responsible officers of the War Department regard his record during and since the Spanish war splendid. Of all the men promoted his Is thought to be most deserving, when remarkable bravery and efficiency are considered. He is only 45 and retires in 1920. The appointment of Leonard Wood to be a Brgadier General is not sat- isfactory to the army, rule, which gards him unfit despite his record :n Santiago and his success as Governor of Cuba His promotion may be fought in the Senate Bells promotion will be criti- cised through the friends of officers who were disappointed, but he will certainly be confirmed ALBERT HALSTEAD. WAITING FOR END OF THE WAR. South African News
 It is estimated that the number of pas- sengers booked for South Africas as soon