New-York tribune., 1910-12-22
ARMY AND NAVY notes.
Elimination of TemperamentalIy
Incapable Officers from Army.
from The Tribune Bureeu.i
washington December


| hcers are awaiting with keenest interest
the result Of the deliberations Of retiring
board which is composed OF high ranking
officers, with the inspector general Of the
| army at its head. This board, which will
| meet IN the War Department IS the first
| TO undertake to determine whether certain
| officers ordered Tor examination are in
: capable of performing their duties for reas-
ons which have nothing to do with physi-
| cafhtness. This is the result of the anil
| mated discussion in the General Staff de-
scribed in these dispatches, and in which
the ground was taken that officers incapable
Of performing their duties for tempera-
mental reasons could be transferred from
the active list 1t is an application of the
system Of elimination in the War Depart
ment without special legislation, which
| has been urged by most commanding Of
officers in their annual reports this year.
/ One such case has already engaged the
attention Of a retiring board which has
been in session for several months. This
| is the case of an army Quartermaster re-
Gently promoted from the grade Of captain
to that of major, and who was recon-
ulended for retirement He is alleged to
be physically Mt for duty, and the board
is having difficulty in determining whether
there are really other reasons which make
him eligible TO retirement. The officer is
making a fight. and has delayed the action
of the board by requesting the testimony
| of officers in the Philippines. The new
board which has been convened Will con-
slider the cases Of five other officers who
have been the subject of unfavorabie COM
ment on the part OF their superiors.
The personnel OF the retiring board has
y y.-i+I
the Idea of having a thorough investigation
in which the officers under examination
Will be afforded full opportunity to be heard
in their OWN defence. Army officers have
for long time been desirous Of some
such practice as this. and they regard
their system as an Improvement on the
naval method. which makes use Of an an
| nual .'plucking board' composed of rear
admirals.
Navy officers who are under examina-
ton have no opportunity to be heard, and
do not know that they have been under
consideration until the announcement is
made of their enforced retirement. The
readiness with which the new order In the
War Department providing for the elm
ination Of Incapable officers has been
availed OF has attracted much attention
Further reports are expected from distant
quarters. In one case, that Of an army
medical officer who has teen frequently
reported for lack of discipline, Il has been
decided 10 give him an opportunity to
seek retirement on his own application. If
he does not take advantage OF this op-
rortunity, he viii be ordered before a re-
firing board.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders
have been Issued:
ARMY.
Colonel ROBERT X. EVANS. esth Infantry, to
dUJy in oIflce chief Of staff az Washington
Captain ALLEN D. RAYMOND from 34th 10
I50th Company, coast artillery.
Captain JAMES X POURIE. from 1S0th to Saith
First fePay I55e so=Et Srtll7f5y- Y r vErsrr coast
artillery, upon completion of examination
FebrIarT > 10 Phiiippiies TO assume com
Hunt relieving First Lieutenant MAXWELL
MURRAY. coast artillery. who is attached
70 10Th Company. and will leave Manila
March 10 o for san Frsnc.sco; r,E>-pv
THoMAsoS. medical Corp one month
NAVY
Commander c. b. BRITAIN detached CON-
nend the Massachusetts: to command the
cor1m,ander N aGd,1E e W. EBERbE. detached CON-
Dand the Wheeling; TO temporary duty Navy
Department
MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS.-Thef fol-
lowing movements Of vessels have been re-
ported 20 the Navy Department;
ARRIVED.
Dec. 19-The Culgoa, al Weymouth England.
Dec 2o-The BrUJuS. the Birmingham the \
PaIapsco. the Tennessee. the Montana and
The Washington. al Hampton Roads: the
Washington. at Norfolk; the Leonidas, at
sewalrs Point: the Roe at Key West: the
Princeton. at Panama; the Smith, the Flus-
ser. the Lamson. the Preston and the Reid, |
at San Juan.
SAILED
Dec tS-The Cesar from Hampton Roads for
Portsmouth. y. H: the Glacier and the
Navajo. from San Diego lor san Francisco.
Dec. 2o-The Brutus. the Birmingham, the
Patarsc5. the Tennessee. the II ntana and
the Washington from Southern drill grounds