New-York tribune., 1909-06-22
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
approaching Enforced Retirements
4gitate Naral Officers.
from The Tribune Bureau

Washington. June n
FEAR OF 'PLUCKING BOARD-'-With the ap-
proach Of the date when number OF naval officers
will be named for enforced retirement in order 70
create the statutory number of vacancies in the
commissioned personnel, the anxiety OF senior
officers is and more evident. As has been
told In these dispatches approval of the scheme Of
elimination Is confined 10 those junior officers who
are certain Of promotion by the retirement of their
seniors. II necessary 10 such interests 10 en-
courage al. retrements possible. and il this
which led 10 the decision recently that the three
senior officers. two rear adnirals and a captain.
who were retired after thirty years service
their ow request. did not leave vacancies. II will
be necessary therefore. to create three vacancies
which not expected Naval officers interested
in the decision of the ''pluCking board which
will meet on June 50. are severely Crticising the
authorities for this construction of the law. Some
Of them indeed, are talking Of carrying the case
10 the Controller of the Treasury under
question which shall arise TO paw in connection
with promotion order ascertain if these trans
fers from the active list do not create vacancies
within the meaning of the law TO the same extent
that they would in all practical considerations.
The exclusion Of these three vacancies from the
number which must be furnished in the year has
been a keen disa ppontment to many officers who
believe that the effort TO create vacancies has been
carried too far
The officers who are responsible this inter
pretation of the law say thcre not likely 10
any trouble from the decision. which is based
an opinion rendered by the Attorney General. and
that the purely technical features Of that ruling
will in no respect interfere with its legality
jeOpardize the Endorsement Of the decision There
are now eighteen vacancies TO be created. and every
effort Is being made induce officers of grades
of captain and commander 20 apply for retirement,
which gives applicants the privilege Of retiring
with the higher grade II is by means
certain of course. that all applications will be acted
on. and there is much animated speculation TO
the officers who will be selected despite the number
of requests received for voluntary retirement.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
been issued:
Brgadier General TAsKER H BLISS. detailed member
lege. vice Brigadier General WILLIAM ". wOTHER-
Major siiGroN F DAVIS Getired) detailed professor
military science at New York Military Academy.
Major 'WEsT6N AMsERI;;AIY medical corps; de-
study tropical diseases as they exist in Philippines
Following changes corps of engineers ordered:
Captain WILLIAM D CONNOR. from Army War Col
lege TO Isl Batts21 m w washington sarraGks aSs a.
gust 10 at Los Angeles. CAPTAIN AMOS A FRIES.
mand OF Company e. 1st Battalion proceed Wash
second nffh fieutenants RICHARD PARK and RICHARD T
GOMEZ. detached ComPa1y, IP, Il "a BattalpI; . VIR.
s Gt1RENcE Z e. ss5H sTGRPEHAyT d bas sR
NJ Sd Battalion; ali 70 engineer school. Washington
second Lieutenant JAMES LOVING from washington
Barracks 10 company NJ Sd Ba5talion san Francisco,
Wilmington Barracks to wheeling October /: Fist
Barracks 70 80 Batsi1Ia % 9IL October
DANIEL / SULTAN. 10 lst Battalion. Washington
Captain THOMAS Q. DONALDSON: Jr. sth Cavalry. to
encampment National Guard Of South Carolina at
c,n5jn greeHGf5 GEORGE v H MosELEY 5th Cavalry to
encampment National Guard Of Illinois. at Esin.
Captain d BGNJAMIN H WATKINS. I'd Infantry. detailed
professor OF military science al PuTaue University.
WILLIAM i LuIz. 2sth Iata1tEy; to his rssiia;n.-
from duty as aid de camp stan OF BrsAdisr asa-