Evening star., 1909-06-02

The retirement of Lieut. Gen Arthur
Macarthur today. at the age of sixty
four years. terminates an anomalous sit
uation. in which that officer has found
himself for about two years
With his retirement the grade Of lieu
tenant general on the active list of the
army ceases. On the retired list there are
six officers who have in succession held
the commission of lieutenant general
Nelson A. Miles. S. r. NJ. Young. 4. r.
Chaffee, John c. Bates, Henry c. Corbin
and Arthur Macarthur.
Congress provided. for the abolition OF
the grade on the active list with the re-
tirement of Gen. Macarthur
There are no indications that the grade
will be re-established, although there is a
possibility of ii i'm order to afford an op-
portunfty for superior rank and pay for
the officer-whether a major general or
brigadier general-Who may be detailed
chief of staff. ii being considered that the
officer occupying that important place at
the head of the general staff corps should
enjoy rank and compensation greater
than that of other general officers, who.
in sense, are junior to him in the milf
tary administration.
Grade May Not Be Revived.
There will probably be difficulty i'm re-
viving the grade, however, just as there
has been opposition to establishing the
grade of vice admiral in the navy Most
officers believe the place will he reserved
for one who distinguishes himself i'm ac-
ton.
There has never been in the history OF
the country many retired lieutenant
generals as there are now. ard the fact
that there will be six officers of that rank
on three-quarters pay OF "A lieutenant gen-
eral, $3.50 year will tend To deter Con-
gress from recreating the place. especially
as all the retired lieutenant generals have
been appointed. served and retired since
the act of June d. 1900, which re-estab-
liShed the grade.
Gen. Miles served from June. 1900 to
August 1903: Gen. Young. from the latter
date to January. 1!W4: Gen. Chaffee To
February. 1906 Gen. Bates from Febru-
ary l to April II of the same year. 1906;
Gen Corbin from April TO September of
1906. and Cen Macarthur since the last
date.
Gen Macarthur has for the last two
years resided in Milwaukee. where he
has been without duties, although he
has had one or two junior officers
aids. In usual circumstances, Gen. Mac
Arthur would have been chief of staff.
Difficulties in the Philippines.
But it happened that while he was in
of the Philippines he came
into conflict with the governor general
of the islands.
The controversies between the two Of
ficials, one in charge of the military
branch and the other responsible for
the civil administration. were numerous
and animated.
In the course of time the governor
general returned to the United States as
Secretary of War. At that time Gen.
Macarthur was in command of the De-
partment of California, with headquai-
ters at San Francisco. II was his task
to greet Mr.. Tart on MS re-
turn from Manila.
Army officers who knew of the situation
have thoroughly appreciated Gen. Mae
Arthur'S position. He was lieutenant
without an adequate command
and without the duties Ahich usually go
with the title.
Mr.. Taft's selection for chief of staff
was Gen j. f. Bell Gen. Macarthur.
foreseeing that he was destined TO duty
not in accord with the dignity of his rank.
sought and obtained a nominal assign
ment for the purpose of preparing re-
port with permission To reside at Nil
waukee.
His only duty since that time was on
one occasion when ne conducted an Off
ciaI Japanese party across the continent.
Gen. Macarthur Is counted one OF the
ableSt of army officers. He was at one
time in his career on duty in the War
in Washington as an assist
ant adiutant general. and was highly re-
spected for his achievements.
He had a distinguished career in tile
civil war. where he served as comnliS-
stoned officer of Wisconsin volunteers.
He is medal of honor man.