New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-03
IMPORTANT NAVAL CHANGES.

The assignment of Commodore Walker to
the command of the European Squadron with
the brevet rank of Rear-Admiral is to be COM
mended from every point Of view. He has
been in charge Of the most influential bureau
of the Navy for eight years, and has shown
himself to be possessed of administrative abil-
ity and executive capacity of the highest order
As the European Squadron is to be the strong
est one that has been sent abroad since the
close Of the civil war. st is eminently proper to
place # under the conSgand of SO accomplished
an officer and so experienced a tactician as
Commodore Walker. By brilliant and labori-
Gus service in the Bureau of Navigation he
has earned the distinction of commanding the
finest fleet that has sailed under the American
flag for many years, At the same time, under
the regulations of the service, he is in heavy
arrears of sea duty. During his thirty-ni
years in the Navy he has been only thirteen
years at sea and since he reached the grade
of captain he has seen only five months of
actual sea duty. If he had remained in the
Bureau of Navigation for third term the De-
partment would have been open to severe CEN
sure for discriminating against his colleagues
in the highest grades Of the service. More
over, for nearly eight years he has virtually
exercised the functions Of Assistant Secretary
of the Navy, and an extension of his term to
twelve years would have been an unwarrant-
able act of favoritiSm. Secretary Tracy has
displayed sound judgment in opening the way
for change in the administration of the Bu-
reau Of Navigation and Offices of Detail and
Naval Intelligence, and al the same time he
has properly recognized Commodore Walkers
brilliant services by appointing him to the most
important command In recent annals of the
Navy
The squadron which is to be sent to the
Mediterranean will include four of the new
steel cruisers. with the Chicago as the flagship.
For many years the American Navy has been
represented in European waters by antquated
hulks like the Lancaster, Quinnebaug and En-
terprise, and ordinarily the ReaT-Admlral
flag has futtered over squadron OF one pow
y-stricken and ill-equipped ship. 1t IS a
matter for National congratulatlon that the
reconstruction of the Navy has reached stage
where four steel ships modern in model ma
chinery and armament can be spared for SER
vice abroad. The Chicago, Atlanta, Boston
and Yorktown are not battle-ships that can
compete with the English, French, Italian and
German souadrons, but they are fast and sea-
worthy vessels, long way in advance OF the
wooden ships war which have excited the
ridicule and contempt Of foreigners during re-
cent years. Their presence in the Medlter-
ranean and the English Channel will be one
of the earliest limitations to European Gov
ernments that the United States, once all
powerful on the seas and foremost in naval
architecture is struggling TO regain its lost
prestige and to secure ample means for defend
ing its seaboards and redressing insults TO its
flag. The departure Of these cruisers Will
weaken materially the feet in American waters
available for emergencies, but with the Balti-
more, Charleston, Dolphin and Petrei ready
for service and with the San Francisco, New
ark, Philadelphia Bennington and Concord
rapidly approaching completion, new vessels
win not be wanting when urgently required
for foreign service.
The reorganization Of the Bureau OF Naviga-
ton offers an opportunity for radical reform