The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-23
CHANGES IN THE NAVY.
Kirkland Succeeds Benham and
Walker to- Tnke the Pncilic station.

WASHINGTON, March 22.-COmmodore
kirkland arrived at the Navy Department
at noon to-day, and when he left the de-
partment. after interview with Secre-
tary Herbert, he carried with him the or
ders placing him In command of the South
Atlantic station, TO succeed Admiral Ben
ham, who has gone to Bluefields. a month
ago Commodore Kirkland. then in COM
mand OF the League Island navy yard,
was ordered TO Honolulu to take command
of the forces there. and also OF the entire
Pacific station, relieving Admiral Irwin,
who will retire on April 15 The Com:no-
dore started to California to take the
steamer last Saturday for Honolulu, but
he intercepted before sailing by tel
egraphic order TO return to Washington,
where he arrived to-day. The South At
lantic station, which he will now command,
had been reserved for Admiral Stanton,
but the latter will continue to command the
North Atlantic station for a time. at least,
though it is expected that he will ulti-
mately yield this command to Commodore
Meade.
The change in Commodore Kirkland's or
derS makes necessary new detail to sue
coed to the command of the Pacific station,
and IL was announced at the department.
this afternoon that Admiral Walker had
been selected for the place. 1t has been
the custom OF the department to allow an
officer of this grade a turn of four years
shore duty after long term OF sea
service. No explanation OF the selection Is
afforded at the Navy Department, but 1t
is learned that Admiral Walker was chosen
for the post by Secretary Herbert, after
consultation with the President. This fact
leads to the conclusion that the executive
expects that important and delicate duties
are to be discharged In the near future
by the commander of the Pacific station,
which Is already the most important sea
command in the navy, embracing Boring
sea, Hawaii, the Pacific coast and the en-
tire western coasts OF Central and South
America Admiral Walker has not yet been
ordered to Honolulu, and 1t may be that
he will not go there.
The Department OF State has at last
called upon the Navy Department to sup
ply a fleet to police the seal waters, and
every effort is being made TO get the YES
sells together. The vessels will number
ten, II many can be assembled-five rev.
and probably the Yorktown. Concord. Ben
nington, Alert and Mohican. The idea of
sending the Charleston around from Monte
video has been abandoned. Whether Adj
miral Walker Will himself go north in COM
mand OF the fleet is not yet known, but
In view of the uncertain state of the regu-
latiOnS touching sealing and the necessity
for prompt action in emergencies. ii is
possible that the admiral himself will be
on the scene. This is the more probable
from the intimation by the department that
his duty Is TO be temporary, and that he is
likely to be relieved before next fall. While
X is true that the Boring sea fleet was in
charge of Commander Ludlow last year,
the State Department expects. notwith-
standing certain bitches in the regula tions
with Great Britain relative to the sealing
question. that the regulations prescribed by
the arbitrators Will be in effect when the
season opens this year. and thus the field
OF operations will be so widened as TO re-
quire the administration of an admiral