The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-20
PROMOTION IN ARMY
UNDER NEW POLICY
Younger Officers Not Rising
as Rapidly as Expected.
FEW COLONIES UNDER SIXTY
Law Designated to Reward and Retire
Men Crown Old IN Service Not
Working Satisfactorily.
FEW COLONIES UNDER SIXTY

The younger officers of the regular
eTmy have thus far been disappointed. il
appears. in their expectations OF coming
TO The front in the management OF the
different departments OF the service as
e result of the recently instituted policy
Of rapid rerirements and promotions.
There are thirty coIonels OF infantry.
ard the average ase of the thirty now in
active service is almost precisely sixty
years aud six months All but four of
them have been appointed since January
/. 1909. The average age Of the fifty
eight colonies Of all arms on the active
list is sixty years; that Is within four
years Of she age Of compulsory retire
ment- The ayera g. among che colonies
OF star is not materially different
These averages do not differ much
from like data four or fre years ago. be
fore the experiment now in progress
was entered upon. Seven Of the active
colonies are already nearing the retiring
age OF sizty-four years. Seven others
are sixty-three and Ten OF them are
sIxtv-two. Eighteen only of the aggre-
gate-Iess than one-third-aFe under fif-
ty-eiEht years Of age. These figures are
based on the rosters carried in the army
list Of March % and do not take scope
of fnconseQuenGaI changes since that
date.
a Surprising Record.
The youngest colonel of the line in
active service is c. A. p. Hatfield. Thir-
teenth Cavalry. promoted only few
weeks ago. He is fifty-three. C0lonels
j A Augur and A. Smith, of the Tenth
and Sixth Cavalry, respectively. are
fifty-four. The youngest of the infantry
colonies are ffty-eight; there are three
OF them. The two youngest artillery
colonies are ffty-niRe. and General
Randolph, the chief OF artillery. is six
ty-two. OF ali these ffty-eight colonies
Hatfield is only one born as late as
1880.
In view Of the numerous vacancies
and consequence changes that have &C
CURED in the grades Of general officer
since the outbreak Of the Spanish war.
compulsory and otherwise. this record
is very surprising Since the first in
auEuration of President Mckinley eleven
major generals and eighty brigadiers.
STAFF and line have been placed upon
the retired list and their places filed
BE- officers promoted from lower grades.
President Roosevelt has been more
energetic II the prosecution Of the new
policy than his predecessor. Since he
succeeded to the Presidential Office. less
than two years ago. five major generals
and eighty brigadjers have gone upon
he ra+T-o7
their successors Only few OF these
were natural or original vacancies. BY
fer the greater number were vacancies
caused by benefcIarfes asking 10 be re,
tired at once upon promotion to the
higher 20 for the specific purpose. II
not upon = distinct understanding prior
70 their Promotion. OF making way for
some othsr officer seeking a similar ben
eft
Swept Of the List.
Another important change winch
greatly facilitated promotion and tended
to make way for the younger set of Of
fcers was the large increase in the mum
Der OF major and brigadfer generals pro.
vided for in the reorganization las The
increase Of places was deftIy used to
sweep on upon The retired list al once 2
lot Of old c0louels. and the process has
been continued with increased speed.
YET no marked change for the better IS
yet to be perceived II is said. however.
that from now on the promotions from
the grade Of lieutenant colonel viii
bring forward a much younger set or
men, and tie age Of Hatfield. a recent
appointment is pointed TO as an ex-
ample. But while HATFIELD is BY no
means an old man. as the world now
goes, he is far from being q Young on4
Of course d considerable portion Of
the general officers appointed since
President Mckinley entered the White
House IN 1887 We're 10 the staff bureaus
IN The War Department and could have
no enc. upon the line in regard 10 this
important matter OF age
u has been semi-oaiciaIlv limited from
time to time since This new method of
naking briEadlers got under full head
way that clOaked under so-caHed re-
wards 10 veterans o. three wars was
the more important object TO get rid
% useless "deadwoodr baruacIed ar The
top OF the military organization 10 its
great deJrlment The so-caIIed hot
house process o. promotion and i'm
mediate retirement Of old and superau-
n5aied officers was invented to be rid
o. hem without woundiHg auvbodv's
feelings. o. rather, salvIuz up such
wounds by concerning increased rank and
pay aloHE RiJh Ire private mandate 20
ask Ter retirement
Retirement Age Too Early.
curious phase of fheze special re-
tiroHc-rs Sc shat many o. che colonies
thus vailroaded upon the retired list
were taken OF ae"erai years beffre they