Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
BRIGADIERS PROMOTED
GENUINE SURPRISE TO MANY
. ARMY OFFICERS.
Gen. Breckenridge Made Major Cen
eral and.to Be Retired-Gen. Lud-
ington Similarly Treated.

The President sent the following nominal
lions to the Senate today: Brig. Gen. J. c.
Breckenridge. inspector general. to be major
general, April IL. 1903, vice Major General
R. p. Hughes; Brig. Gen. NJ. l. Ludington.
quartermaster general. to be major gen.
eral. vice Breckenridge, to be retired; and
Brig. Gen. James F. Wade. to be major
general. vice Ludington. to be retired.
These nominations came as a genuine sur
prise to all army officers except those d.
rectly concerned and one or two others ION
the inside" The original program Of the
department, announced several weeks ago,
contemplated the single promotion OF Brig.
Gen. James F. Wade to the grade of major
general on the statutory retirement OF Maj
Gen. Robert p. Hughes. commanding the
department of California, on the 18th OF
April next.
It would appear. therefore that the pro-
motion Of Inspector General Breckinrfdge
and Quartermaster General Ludington to
the grade of major general on the retire.
ment, Of Gen. Hughes and their retirement
on the same date, in order to make way
for Gen. Wade, was an afterthought
Reward to Both Officers.
There Is an impression in well-informed
military circles that the enactment of the
general staff law and Gen. Breckinridge's
connection with that legislation were po-
tent factors in bringing about the change
Of plan mentioned.
General Breckinridge would not have re-
tired under ordinary conditions until jan
uary, 1908. General Ludington, however.
Is three years Older than the inspector gem
eral. and Would have retired for age July
next 1t was generally supposed that both
Of these staff officers would retire in their
present grade Of brigadier general. In
recognition of their long and honorable
service. however. the Secretary OF War,
cluded to advance them both to the grade
OF major general on the condition that they
would retire at once.
This was acceptable to both Gen. Brock
tnrfdge and Gen. Ludington, with the re-
suit of their nomination to the higher grade
today.
The execution Of the plan is regarded
variously a victory for both Secretary
Root and Gen. Breckenridge. In advocat-
ing the creation of the general staff Secre-
tary Root insisted on the adjustment Of
the inspector generals department of the
army no longer necessary, as It's duties
would be performed by the general staff.
This particular feature Of the bill, drawn
by the War Department, was vigorously
resisted by General breckenridge. with the
result that the inspector generals depart
ment was not disturbed by the bill as 1t be-
came law. It therefore appears that
while General Breckenridge saved his corps
he will no longer have the direction Of its
affairs, and although he Is relegated to the
Inactive list, with no voice In the affairs
Of the military establishment, he Is adj
vanced to the grade Of major general.
Secretary Root Dissatisfied.
Secretary Root was thoroughly dissatis-
fed with the course Of General Breckin-
ridge in preventing legislation he strongly
desired and has now arranged affairs, so as
to remove General Breckenridge from an
Office where he might possibly have proved
a hindrance to the free execution of the
military policies Of the future. AS one off,
Ger put 1t, Everybody is satisfied
Other Changes.
Other important army changes in the
near future will be the promotion Of Maj.
Gen. 8. B. NJ. Young as lieutenant general
on the retirement Of Gen. Miles in August
next. and the promotion Of Brig Gen. s.
g. Summer to the grade of major general
on the retirement of Gen. George w. Davis
in July next, and the promotion Of Brig.
Gen. Leonard Wood to be a major general,
to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion
Of Gen. Young in August.