The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-07
Two RETIRING MAJOR GENERALS AND THEIR SUCCESSORS

General Merritt as commander OF the
department of Missouri. and two years
ago. on Merritts retirement became
commander OF the department OF the
east, with headquarters at Governors
island. New York, where he now re-
sides.
Brigadier General George Whitehead
Davis, the older OF the two officers who
succeed to the vacancies caused by the
retirement of Wheaton and Brooke. was
born in Connecticut July 26, 1889, en-
listed Nov. 27, 1852 was mustered out
in 1866 with the rank of major and the
next year was appointed a captain in
the regular army. Nearly a quarter
century passed before he attained high
rank for he became a brigadier gen.
eral of volunteers only on the outbreak
Of the war with Spain and was raised
TO the same rank In the regular service
in 1900. AS engineer in Nicaragua and
assistant engineer of the Washington
monument at the national capital he
made a reputation years ago. and he
created a very favorable impression as
military governor OF Porto Rico I'm 1899
1900. IL was the writer's privilege 10
meet him in the palace at San Juan
while he was governor. and he can tes-
tify to his modest bearing. tact. talent
and courtesy. AS the author OF several
monographs on Porto Rico, General
Davis made valuable contributions TO
the literature on that island. Appointed
inspector general of the United States
army in the Philippines. he was in
trusted by the president with the deli
cate duty Of re-establishing peace in
Mindanao. and has made a notable i'm
hxy ~ 1.A ttt
that contributed to his success i'm Porto
Rico.
The youngest Of this notable group.
Brigadler General John Coalter Bates,
is a native of Missouri, where he was
born Aug. 26. 1912. Like those already
mentioned, General Bates entered the
army as volunteer i'm 1861. He served
on the staff OF General Meade from
Gettysburg to the close OF the war.
being brevetted twice for meritorious
services in the field and closing this
period of his career as a lieutenant
colonel OF volunteers. For more than
thirty years he was stationed west OF
the Mississippi. conducting campaigns
in the Indian country, with intervals OF
service on tactical boards and commits
sions for devising drills and providing
improved rifles for the army. The out
break of the war with Spain gave him
a commission as brigadier general Of
volunteers. 10 which rank he had at
tained only after thirty-seven years
OF service. He was promoted major
general for distinguished services dur
ing the Santiago campaign. and in 1901
was appointed brigadier general in the
regular army his only senior in that
grade being General Wade of Ohio.
General Bates was for a brief time
In 1899 military governor of Cienfuegos,
Cuba. whence he was ordered to the
Philippines and placed in command OF
the Mindanao region, being intrusted
with the negotiation of the treaty with
the sultan of Sulu, which caused so
much comment on its publication. In
April. 1900. he was made commandant
of the district of Southern Luzon, but
returned from the Philippines several
months ago and was assigned to COM
mand the department of the Missouri
FREDERICK A. ODER.