New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
General MCCIernand'S Status an
lJnsoIved Military Problem.
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, December

,,,cb interest attaches 10 the status Of |
r.,eral T.. j. McClernand. L. s. A., who |
an retire for age on December % |
csneral McClernand, who was colonel |
:, cavalry. was nominated TO be briga- !
Wsr general at the end of the last ses-
IAN of Congress but the Senate failed |
- confirm the nomination. lie was made |
hrigadler by a recess appointment, and,
.susual In such cases. his name was
.gan sent TO the Senate, with other army
,ominatons, most of which We're also
.s,resented by recess appointments. An
.xseutive session of the Senate was not
Ssd until the last day before the holiday
,sesss. Under the rules certain nominal
,,ons must be favorably reported 10 the
.scond executive session. which will not
occur until after Congress reconvenes on
January 2 In the meantime General Nc
clernand goes on the retired list.
II is a question whether the officer
shall be retired as a colonel or with the
rank of brigadier general. Military au-
tborities think that since he is a briga-
der general by virtue of recess APP
pOln,ment, end is drawing the pay Of
biga6ier general and continue TO draw
the retired pay of the grade. If the
Senate were to reject the nomination,
which is not likely, or should fail 10 act
IN his case before adjournment on March
n would be a question whether General
MeClernand would continue on the retired
list as a colonel or as a brigadier general
There has never been decision on
case OF this sort.
In the Senate there is some opposition
10 making an officer a brigadier general
iut before retirement, but General Nc
lsnand is generally recognized as BEING
sstitled 10 promotion on account OF his
atinguished services. 1t is probable the
War Department will call on the Attor-
pey General for an opinion. The i'm
preston prevailing at the Capitol is that
General McClernand has lost the chance
Of being a brigadier and must retire as
4 colonel. but the War Department OIL |
Gals believe there is much TO be sald
on the other side of the case ana
the Attorney Generals opinion will be 1
awaited with much interest.
ARMY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
the ranking army officers in the United
States have been ordered TO be IN wash
ington on January s for a conference TO
arrange the details Of the extensive plan
Of reorganization Of the army This VIII
be the last important act concerning the
army the retiring administration will I'M
dertake One such conference was held
last summer to initiate the project, which
eontemplates abolition Of the present
army departments and the creation of
brigades as units in different parts OF the
country. These Will be so arranged and
proportioned in respect to the various
arms of the service as TO be capable OF
troop concentration at a moments notice
into regular army corps. Some of the
features Of the plan would require legis-
ation 10 give them effect Most of the
others can be carried out under executive
orders IT IL for the purpose of framing
,hese that the January conference is
called
The officers summoned include Major
Generals Thomas IL. Barry, William II.
Carter and Arthur Murray, Brigadier
Generals Tasker H. Bliss. Ramsay j..
Potts. Frederick a Smith, Marion 7.
Maus. Ralph W Hoyt Montgomery Ma
comb. Walter s. Schuyler, Robert Il
Evans, Clarence r. Edwards, Edgar 4.
steever and Edward J. McClernand
ORDERS IsSUED.-These army and
navy orders have been issued:
ARMY
LIEUTENANT colonel WILLIAM G.. BROWN.
acting Inspector general, relieved from AT
tsehmenf 81 CSFalry. NJ, ...,,.., earns
from Philippines April 10, 1918. 10 United
Captain CAMPBELL E. BABcocK. from
Captain JAMES 7. WATSON. from eth In
fsntry 20 2Sth Infantry
Captain WILLIAM F. H. GODSON. from
10Th TO SIN cavalry. March l. 1913. TO San
FIancisco, sailing March .. 1913, for Ma
Captain WALTER p. ELLIOTT infantry. to
home preparatory 20 retirement
Firs Lieutenant ROYDEN +. BEEBE, from
Frn Lieutenant BERT W. PHILLIPS, from
9Th 10 18th Infantry.
Frst Lieutenant OSCAR FOLEY, 9Th cav
airy detailed professor Of military science
and tactics south Dakota state College OF
SD.
nu lieutenant RAYMOND ". MILLS;
medical corps, from Fort Sam Houston and
rom Walter Reed General Hospital to
Psttsburg Barracks (
ksFes Of absence. Captain EDWARD T. ,
HARTMANN 18th infantry. one month
Captain ALBERT c. THOMPSON. Jr., 5
coast artillery. one month from December (
a Second Lieutenant FRANCIS J..
WARD. 26th Infantry. to January - (
ias.sCaptan WALTER y. ELLIOTT. IN Z
tsntry, 10 April I. 1913; Captain THO
DORE 3 TAYLOR. 9th CavRlry. one ,
Eonth from January /, 1918; Major |
RALPH HARRISON. 4th Cavalry, three
Months from December p.
NAVY.
Lieutenant Commander J. r. DEFREEs, Blu
eau 81 Ordnance. Navy Department. Jan
vary 2 1913 .
Hsu,enan, l,urfor Grade, II q CHILD | .
sore River shipbuidiug Company, Quincy .
,a1eS' January 10. 1913.
~.lea Director r. II. GREEN, detached .
aeV recruiting station. Ncw YORK. Jdnu- !
eey w. 1913; president Board Of Medical
uLshaminers. Washington !
.n,a Inspector 4. r. WENTWORTH, De :
,esaeo navy ward. New York. January - | !
10 navy recruiting station. New YORK. |
.!anuary re- 1913
'..seon II D. WILSON. navy recruiting sta
ION Buffalo. January 3. 1913.
sson F. :. BOCERT. detached navy re- :
,.e.tihg station Buffalo January 3, 1913 | .
ctsse.Y yard. New York
sei Gunner r. y. MONTGOMERY. navy
cs.s,o Mare Island. January 2. 1913.
49, Gunner a. s MACKENZIE. detached "
"a yard, Philadelphia, January ?. 1913;
'1snsr J. X THOMPSON. detached the ]
Vishd; home. waiting orders.
."VVEMENTS OF NAVY VESSELS .
usse movements Of navy vessels have
zen reported:
~ ARRIVED. .
D. !s-The orion. at sewaii Point
N,,sy-Ihe Cesar az Monte Christi: the
NaNa he. mil q