Evening star., 1893-10-30
IMPORTANT NAVAL CHANGES
Admirals Moved About in an Apparently
Mysterious Way.
Pacific and Asiatic StatiOns-Admiral
ministratiOn's Policy In Hawaii.

All important CndnSe III naval commands
has taken place recently without having at
tracted much attention. 1t involves the
Pacific and Asiatic stations, each Of which
Is expected to be the scene Of events of
great interest to the United States in the
near future. Notwithstanding the present
prominence Of the South Atlantic station
on account Of the revolution in Brazil, the
other two stations named are regarded as
the two most important at present to the
United States from naval standpoint
The Pacific station includes Hawaii, Sa-
moa, Bering sea, Chile. Peru and Central
America. in each Of which important Ameri-
can interests are at stake. The Asiatic sta
ton is of secondary importance only. and
is attracting more than usual attention just
at present because of the serious compli-
cations likely to attend the settlement Of
the troublesome Chinese puzzle.
The changes referred to affect Rear Ad-
miral John Irwin and Acting Rear Admiral
j. 8. Skerrett. The former commands the
Asiatic station, and the latter the Pacific.
They are ordered to exchange commands,
but why the action is taken at this particu-
lar time is not stated. Both officers have
been detached. Admiral Skerrett and his
staff will leave Honolulu November for
San Francisco. whence, after receiving his
Instructions, he will sail for China. Admi-
raj Irwin will sail from China direct for
Honolulu. and will hoist his flag on the
Philadelphia. His service there will be
short. as he retires next spring.
This very fact makes the change more in
explicable. The Pacific station was Ad-
miral Irwin's preference when he was or
dered to sea, but he was sent to the Asiatic
instead. This was several months ago.
when Admiral Harmony was placed ON the
retired list.
Admiral Skerrett.
Admiral Skerrett is especially well known
| In Washington. from the fact that he COM
manded the Washington navy yard for sew
eral years before being assigned to his pres
ent command. He has been at Honolulu a
little over year. and. so far as known,
has done nothing incompatible with the
strictest sense Of neutrality while there.
His relief at this time by another officer
who Is on the verge Of retirement, however,
is somewhat Of mystery to those not in
| the confidence Of the administration. That
1t has to do with the policy Of the govern
ment on the Hawaiian question is generally
conceded, but the nature Of that policy. and
what relation 1t bears to Admiral Skerrett,
are things that can only be imagined. 1t
Is assumed by many naval officers that Ad-
miral Skerrett. being on the spot, Is favor
able to the present provincial government.
and that he is an advocate of annexation.
Although II may possibly be erroneous,
the impression Is general in this country
and In Hawaii that the present admins
tration Is opposed to annexation under the
existing order of things, and WILL instead,
propose the submission of the question of
their future government to the Inhabitants
or the islands, course acknowledged to
be favorable to the interests Of Queen
Liluokalani. If this view of the case is
true. 1t is reasonable to suppose that the
President prefers to have the execution of
his plans in the hands Of an officer known
to be In entire sympathy with them, or of
an officer like Admiral Irwin, entirely dis
interested. rather than in the hands of an
| officer suspected Of harbOring antagonistic
views. No one believes for a minute that
Admiral Skerrett would fail in his duty to
his superior regardless Of his own views.
TT is his duty to obey ORDERS" said one of
he will do II. His own private opinion on
the subject will not cause him to hesitate
| a minute. His not to reason why. you
know, His but to do and die.' That's the
kind Of a man he is and there are a lot
more like him in the navy. Naval officers
make mistakes sometimes but 1t Is due
oftener from a strict obedience to orders
than to a use Of their own discretion"
This action of the government tends to
confirm the report from San Francisco
quoting Minister Willis saying that the
policy of the government on the Hawaiian
question will be announced at Washington
about the time he reaches Honolulu, which
will be within the next ten days and about
the time that Admiral Skerrett leaves there
commanding the Philadelphia, will be in
command of the naval forces at Honolulu
until Admiral Irwin arrives there, which
will not be for several weeks.