New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-28
Gen. TORNEY DEAD;
FIGHT OVER PLACE
Gorgas and Maus Most
Talked Of as Army Med
ical Department Head.
ABSENCE OF FORMER
MAY HURT CHANCES
Surgeon General Victim of Pneu.
monia Almost on the Eve OF
His Retirement.

.lFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Dec 97.-Brigadier Gen
I cral George II. TOrney, surgeon genera
of the army. died here tonight after an
illness of three weeks. Although he had
! been suffering from complication OF
diseases, pneumonia was the immediate
cause Of his death.
In anticipation Of the retirement VI
General Torney. which would nave &C
CURED next July, tine senior colOne's VI
the Medical Department have aIrcauS
, taken steps to improve their oppo' 'u'"-
ties for appointment "a his successo''
Those who are most conspicuousiE mon
TONED for the place are Colonel Wllnam
&. Gorgas. who Is now on his way 10
South Africa, on leave OF absence 10
solve for a private corporation SANTA!
problem i'm that country similar to inc
one which confronted the Unlteu STATES
when the construction of the Panama
Canal was undertaken, and Colonel l.
Meryin Maus. chief surgeon OF the East
crn Department at Governors Island
LIN view Of the record made by Colonei
Gorgas I'm the work Of sanitation both IN
Cuba. where he was stationed with the
provisional army. and In Panama, II Is
expected that he would he selected as
the next surgeon general Of the army, II
is understood that the President had
made up his mind that he was to have
the place. In view of the fact' however
that Colonel GOrgas sailed for South Al
rica about month ago and is AT present
out OF the country, his chances for APP
pointment might be somewhat lcsSehed'
Colonel Gorgas has the backing oil the
American Medical Association.
/! Colonel Maus is an active candidate Tor
the Office and his friends are confident
that his chances for appointment are
bright. despite the advantage that Col
onel Gorgas's record for cleaning up the
Canal Zone naturally gives him. Colonel
Maus, il is understood. has the backing
Of William Jennings Bryan, who mas
stood sponsor for him before the Presl-
dent. Colonel Maus, however, holds cA-
IRENE views on the temperance question
and has been so active an advocate III
that cause that ho has had quarTcia'
which are not regarded proper HELD OF
activity by some OF his military col
leagues one OF tho most recent -
dispute with the Brewers Association
over the effect OF environment upon
brewery workers Colonel Maus holds
to the theory that the habits Of brewery
workers growing out OF their occupation
are deleterious to health. The Brewers
Association took issue with him on TINS
point. and the controversy Is stu aging
l.. ,,v.t,r mr.. on
craI General Torney. then tenth OF the
list Of colonies In the medical corps was
i'm command Of the general hospital ~
san Francisco. In that city he Was best
known for his services after the great fire
when the city was threatened with an out.
break OF typhoid fever
Born i'm Baltimore on June I. 1850.
General Torney Was appointed an assist
ant surgeon from Maryland In 1875. was
made captain in 1850. major In 1924. Hen
tenant colonel in 1903 and colonel In 1908.
the same year he was appointed surgeon
general General Torney was an assist
ant surgeon In the navy for four years be
fore lie entered the army.
His work In the prevention Of typhoid
has been exceptional In large army camps
In the Spanish war TOT pcflou Oh loui
months there were about 1900 men In
camp at Jacksonville, Fla. They drank
artesian well water. In that time there
were .I29 cases Of certain typhoid Last
wear there were nearly $4,000 men In
camp four months at san Antonio Every
man and officer had been vaccinated, and
there was not a single case of typhoid
vt Jacksonville 500 men died OF disease
while i'm camp. There were only eleven
deaths IN the camp at san Antonio
though at the time there was much
typhoid in the city itself Remarkins or
these facts recently, General Torney said
They are learning to make camp"
General TOfney saw rigorous service in
the Philippines and in Cuba. He was "A
member OF the American Medical Asso-
citation. Association of Military Surgeons
Of the United States, the American Red
Cross ard chairman Of its war relief COM
mttee, the Army and Navy Club, tho
Catholic Club Of New York and the Bo-
hemIan Club, OF san Francisco.