The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-03
CoRBIN TO SUCCEED CHAPPEE.
THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL TO
COMMAND THIS DEPARTMENT.
Gen. Chalree Is to he Assistant 70 the Chief
OF stan Until the Retirement OF Gen.
Young. when He Will He Promoted
10 the Rank Of Leutenant.General.

Of Stan Vntll inc HetlrcWcut o. 1eu.
YOUNG. when He Will He Promoted
10 the Rank Of Lieutenant-G cneral.
WASHINGTON, Oct ANNOUNCEMENT was
made this afternoon at the War Department
that Major-Gen. Henry G. Corbin. Ad-
iutant General and assistant to the Chief
of STAT, has been assigned to the command
OF the Department Of the East to relieve
Ma ior-Gen. Adna r. Chafee, who is Or
dered to duty in the War Department as
assistant to Lieut., Gen. Young.
The news Of the transfer was complete
surprise to the officers Of the army on duty
in the War Department 1t had been in
contemplation, however, for several weeks,
and was finally determined upon last night,
the information having reached Acting
Secretary Oliver that Gen. Corbin would
be satisfied with the order. Gen. Corbin
has been absent from the War Department
FOR several weeks on an inspection tour
OF the army posts of the West. 1t was
learned to-day that he would reach WASH
ington this afternoon. and at conference
between Gen. Young and Secretary Oliver
|, WAS deoided to make the announcement
ct once.
The purpose of the change, as stated
in the official announcement, is to give
Gen Chafree an opportunity to familiarize
himself with the workings Of the General
Staif and to ascertain the present condition
of the military establishment before he
succeeds Gen. Young as Chief Of STAFF. 1t
10 intended as recognition Of the eminent
services rendered by Gen. Corbin in the
important office Of Adjutant- General during
the war with Spain and the subsequent
operations in China and the Philippine
Islands, and is made with view to obtain
the benefit of his great administrative
and executive ability in the command
Of the largest and most important military
department in the United States"
The promotion of Gen. Chaffee to be
Lieutenant General and Chief Of STAFF was
decided upon some time ago, and upon
the retirement OF Gen Young in January
Chief of staff. He will continue at the
head Of the General Stafr until April IA.
1905, when he, too, will retire. The question
Of a successor to Gen. Chaffee has already
been considered by the President and was
talked over before Secretary Root went
abroad.
Gen Corbin will retire in September,
his continuing in command of the De-
partment Of the Fast until Gen. Chaffee's
retirement, when he will be made a Lieu
tenant General and Chief of STAFF in recog-
milton of his services to the army With
the retirement Of Gen. Corbin all the older
officers of the army will have passed from
the active list and the selection OF a young
man to fill the office of Chief of STAFF for the
next following four years will have to be
made.
There are two candidates whose prom
inence in the army naturally brings them
forward for this position. They are Brig
Gen W. H. Carter, who ia known as the
advocate of the General STAFF system,
and Brig. Gen Leonard Wood now in COM
mand OF the military forces in Mindanao.
Secretary Root is known to favor the selec
ton of Gen. Carter, while the President
feels that il young officer is to be named
Gen Wood, whose promotion to Major
General makes him senior to Gen. Carter.
should be selected. Secretary Roots in
dorsemsnt of Gen Carter Is tased upon
that officer q services in assisting him in the
preparation Of the General Staff scheme,
and particularly because OF his general
knowledge Of military matters.
According to the officers Of the War De-
partment there is no doubt that II Presi-
dent Roosevelt is elected in 1904 he will
name Gen. Corbin to succeed Gen. Chaffee.
and Gen. Wood will Use their best efforts
to secure recognition Of the services of
these officers. Gen. Carter applied some
months ago for service in the Philippines,
as did Gen. Wood. Secretary Root felt
that he could not spare Gen. Carter from
ton Of the General STAFF, and Gen. Carter
will not leave for Manila for several weeks.
When the question of appointment comes
up, however, both officers will have lad
active service in the Philippines, and there
will be an interesting contest between them
for the honor.
The assignment of Gen. Corbin to COM
mand the Department of the East will not,
it is explained at the War Department,
interfere with his rank of MajorGnhcIai
and Adjutant General. Before making the
change the law officers Of the War Depart.
ment we're consulted, land number OF prece-
dents for assigning staff officers to outside
duty we're found. Gen. Corbin will there
fore continue to be the Adjutant General
ing the time that he will be In command
Of the Departmen of the East Col. Hall
will act as Adjutant General under orders
from the Secretary of War and Chief Of
STAFF
Gen. Chaifee said at Governors Island
Yesterday that he had talked with Gen.
In regard to his, Gen. Chafee's, transfer to
Washington.
Gen. Chaffee, who finished strenuous
game Of golf before dinner last evening,
expressed fondness for outdoor life.
but was non-committal on the question
whether he would or would not like con-
lining Office work. He remarked that there
we're also golf links at Chevy Chase. Wash
lngton, He said that he had expected to leave
Governors Island on Nov. 1, to take the
place Of Cen Corbin and familiarize HIM
sef with the duties of his office as assistant
TO Gen Young but that he might go sooner.
he referred to himself and Gen. Corbin
SasI,young and active men, and he certainly
looked the part playing golf.
The assignment OF member Of the
Adjutant-General's Department to the
command Of troops" he said "has .prece-
dents, think, in history. Gen. Jessup,
during. the Indian troubles in Florida,
was, il my memory is right, given COM
mand Of troops while he was in the Ad jutant-
GENERALS office. Gen. Thomas, too, while
he was in the Adjutant Generals office
was assigned to the command Of colored
mo in, tlnu