The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-22
CAPTAIN CR0ZIER
CHIEF OF ORDNANCE.
NAMED TO SUCCEED BURLINGTON.
appointment Regarded another
Blow At Seniority in the Army.
Advanced Over the Heads OF
Ranking Officers.

The President today announced the ap-
pointment Of Capt William Crozier. of the
Ordnance Department. to be Chief Of ord
nance for four years. with the rank during
that time Of brlgadier general. General
Crozier succeeds Gen. 4. R. Burlington,
who retires from active service today
Captain Crozier's appointment Is regard
ed as another blow at seniority in the
army. His selection was bitterly opposed
by the twenty or more officers Of the Ord
nance Department who were his seniors.
At the same time, it is another declara-
tion Of the intention Of the President and
Secretary OF War TO recognize ability and
progressiyeness in younger officers Of the
army. irrespective OF rank.
Secretary Root has long been an advo-
cate OF that principle. and showed it last
spring when he promoted Chaffee. Mac
Arthur, and Wheaton TO be major gen
erals and Jumping them over Bsig- Gen
James f. Wade. who was their senior n
rank. It was later shown By the promo
tlOn or Capt Franklin Bell 20 be 4 bTIga-
der general, thereby advancing him over
the heads OF many majors. Lieutenant col
oRels and eolonels OF the line Of the army.
Jumps Over Many 0Htcers.
n the promotion OF Captain crozier he
is advanced over four colonies. six lieu
tenant colonies. twelve maicrs. and FIVE
captains Captain Crozier Is row in New
York. ard viii be ordered 10 Washington
Immediately to take charge Of the ord
nance Bureau General Burlington. his
predecessor, left Washington last night
after taking leave OF the officers in the
War Department.
Captain CrOzier Is QUE of the energetic
men of the army. he is fun Of nervous
energy notwithstanding a frau physical
/ constitution. which has kept him on sick
! leave to some extent within recent years
! He and General Burlington are great
/ friends, they being the joint inventors Of
/ the disappearing gun carriage system,
I which is now in adoption at our seacoaSs
( fortihcations. It is this same S'l car
riage. the Crozisr-B Burlington type, which
/ caused so much controversy among the
I
/ Board of Ordnance and Fortifcation.
He was q cadet at West Point in 1872;
graduated in 1877, and was assigned to
the Fourth Artillery with the rank Of
! second lieutenant. After i've years in the
/ artillery he vas transferred to the Ord
nance Department. with the rank of first
lieutenant, and was promoted to captain
in 1892
His Rank Temporary
I His promotion to the rank Of briga-
der general is only temporary, as it is
made under the provision of the Army
Reorganization bill adopted at the last
| session of Congress, which permits the
detail of officers to the staff corps for a
period of four years after which time
they must return to the line for a period
before they Will again be eligible for de-
tail.
Significance of appointment.
The fact that Captain Crozier will, by
virtue Of his Office as Chief Of Ordnance,
become a member of the Board of Ord
! nance and Fertilization, shows that this
subject OF disappearing gun carriages will
| continue to be one Of discussion and con
{ If0VeTSy as II Is uoL II All DSiIeNcu lHdL
he Will recede from his position, which
was that q. General Burlington, that the
disappearing gun carriage is success
and should be adopted instead OF bar
bette or stationary carriage.
/ There was some question about the ls-
/ gslity of the detail Of d captain, but Sec
! retary. Root found after a careful enquiry
1 that the bill provided that where the de-
tail was made within the bureau itself,
and the Department did not 90 outside.
the particular bureau TO which the ap-
pointment was to be made, an officer with
a rank as low as captain was eligible.
4 Where, however, 1t was determined to Sc
lect an officer for detail Who Cid not be-
long. to the OrdnaIce Department, the
selection could not be made below the