Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-02

|
day on account of age, and Lieut.. Col.
| William Wotherspoon of the 10th Infantry,
acting president of the War College, a
brigadier general, vice Gen. Duvall, pro-
| NOTED.
These appointments end a most interest
| ing competition in the army. In both cases
the President has ignored the question OF
| seniority, and selected officers by no means
| at the top of their respective grade. Gen.
Duvall stood number seven in the list Of
brigadier generals of the line. and his rela-
tive rank in that grade was number four
teen.
Six Brigadiers Passed Over.
The six brigadiers of the line who were
passed over through Gen. Duvall's appoint
ment are Gems. Funston, Carter Bliss,
Barry. Mills and Edgerly. but 1t is stated
as a curious fact that Gen. Duvall was
either instructor or drill master at West
Point to each of those officers except Fun
ston. Each of them is younger in years
than Duval. except Edgerly, who is
slightly older. OF the other brigadiers,
Gems. Godfrey. Myer, Hall Thomas and
Morton will each retire for age before Gen
Duvall, and Gems. Davis and Hodges within
few weeks afterward. OF the younger
brigadiers. Gen. Funston will retire in No
vember, 1929: Carter in November 1915:
Bliss in December. 1917; Mills in May. 1918;
will retire in January, 1911
1t Is stated at the War Department
that the promotion of Gen EdSerly of
me cavalry arm. who is senior in rank
and years to Gen. Duvall would restrict
the grade of major general to the cav
airy, for the other five generals have all
been cavalry officers. On the other hand
zen. Duvall is from the artillery and is
the Irst ofhcer from that arm to hold the
grade of major general, except for the
purpose OF a perfunctory appointment in
order to secure an advance grade upon
retirement, since Gen. Schofield reiin
quished 1t in 1895
Another consideration said to Lave in
fuenced Gen. DuvalPs preferment was
the fact that the infantry now has the
lieutenant generally and some of the
preceding lieutenant generals were also
from the infantry which arm. moreover
has always been regularly represented in
the grade of major general
As to Gen. Funston.
The senior brigadier was Funston In
regard to him 1t was stated that ne is so
young that although all the brigadiers
now in the service might in turn be an
pointed to the grade of major general.
Funston would still have the opportunity
to retire as the senior major general. who
would then be the ranking officer Of the
army, as the grade of lieutenant general
will lapse with Gen MacArthur's retire.
ment in June, 1909.
BESIDES these considerations, which had
their weight in bringing about the selec-
ton of Gen. Duvall to this promotion.
personal considerations were potent for
1t is stated that the President and Sec
rotary Taft regard Gen. Duvall as one of
the ablest of the general officers of the
army whose record of service both in the
line and the staff is exceptionally fine.
He is now duty at the War Depart
ment as assistant chief of staff, and will
probably continue in that office for an in
definite period
Gen. Duvall's Career
Gen. Duvall was born in Maryland, and
was appointed a cadet to the Military
Academy from that state July 1, 1866. He
was graduated June Is. 1869, and was ap-
pointed second lieutenant in the 9th Artil-
lery. in which arm he served until ap-
pointed brigadier general from the grade of
lieutenant colonel March 2, 1905. During
the Spanish-Amencan war Gen DuVall
served as major and inspector general, lieu
tenant colonel. chief Of ordnance, lieutenant
fantry-all in the volunteers-from which
he was mustered out June 30, 1901.
A Native Of the District.
Gen. Wotherspoon, the new brgadier
was born In the District of Columbia, and
was appointed second lieutenant OF the
18th Infantry October /, 1873, and has
served in the infantry arm continuously
from that date, reaching the grade Of lieu
tenant colonel July II. 1904. He is acting
president of the Army War College in this
city. Gen. Wothespoons advancement is
greater even than that of Gen. Duvall. The
| former stood No. in the list of lieutenant
colonies of infantry, or No. 80 in that ARM
| and in relative rank was No. 81 in the list
| of lieutenant colonies. AS Gen. Wother-
| spoon was junior in relative rank to 1T
colonies and thirty-seven lieutenant
| colonies, he actually jumped l54 senior